Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Hall

Christopher A. Hall 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: 20190005742
    Abstract: A cable drum receives a length of working cable that is wound in and out from the drum in response to powered rotation of the drum with an uppermost layer of working cable on the drum forming a working surface. A torque sensor in communication with the cable drum measures a torque applied to the cable drum due to tension on the working cable from a load. A drum height gauge is provided for measuring a height of the working surface of the cable on the cable drum. A processor receives the torque value from the torque sensor and the height of the working surface from the drum height gauge and computes a force applied to the length of working cable due to the load based on the torque and height of the working surface. The work performed by the cable may be calculated to assist in determining cable health.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: ERIC JUSTIN SALLEE, DAVID LLOYD McCARTHY, SHANNON JONES, DARREN SCOTT BARNES, IAN CHRISTOPHER HALL, ROBERT JAY SHALLOW, JOHN W. HASSELL, DONALD JAMES McKAY, STEPHEN MATTHEW POLLARD
  • Publication number: 20180355732
    Abstract: A blade tip sealing portion forms the distal end of a rotor blade in a turbine engine to reduce or prevent leakage through the blade tip clearance. A rotor assembly comprises a casing, a rotor, and at least one rotor blade coupled to the rotor. The rotor blade comprises a root portion coupled to the rotor, a main airfoil body extending radially from the root portion, and a blade tip sealing portion. The blade tip sealing portion comprises a blade tip platform and a plurality of sealing members. The sealing members are positioned on the blade tip platform at an angle substantially perpendicular to an air flow across the blade tip platform and are spaced to effect overlap of adjacent sealing members in the direction of the air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER HALL, M. Stephen Krautheim
  • Publication number: 20180340549
    Abstract: A variable diffuser for a centrifugal compressor comprises a passage between opposing disc faces and a plurality of vanes extending therethrough with a fixed angle relative to the engine centerline. Axial displacement between the opposing disc faces is variable. The vanes extend through one of the opposing disc faces as that disc face is axially translated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, David Sayer
  • Publication number: 20180333778
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to powder packing for additive manufacturing (AM) methods and systems. Conventional powder packing methods are manual and non-standardized, and they result in operator fatigue and potentially product inconsistencies. Powder packing according to the present disclosure improves standardization and reduces turnaround time, with the potential to lower the cost of AM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Michelle Lynn SLODERBECK, Christopher HALL, Laura BANKS, Tim MURPHY, David PLOETZ, Zachary FIELDMAN, Christopher C. CHAPMAN, Emily BAUTISTA, MacKenzie Ryan REDDING
  • Patent number: 10113442
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method of releasing a fan blade for testing a turbofan engine includes providing an internal passage with a constant arc through an airfoil arranged about a blisk such that the constant arc of the internal passage aligns with a contour of the blisk. The method further includes packing the internal passage with a charge, modifying the airfoil such that the airfoil is released from the blisk evenly along a chordwise length of the airfoil, and detonating the charge such that the airfoil is released from the blisk at a selected time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Graham Burkholder, Xuekun Sun, Jeff Crutchfield, Ben Hodgson, Dennes Kyle Burney
  • Publication number: 20180295248
    Abstract: Method and systems of automated document processing described herein include activating in sequence a plurality of illumination modules of an illumination source to illuminate a document, where the plurality of illumination modules are located at different positions relative to the document. The document can be imaged each time the document is illuminated by an illumination module to provide a plurality of images. A shadow profile of the document can be obtained based on the plurality of images. One or more of a boundary of the document and presence of a fastener attached to the document can be identified using the shadow profile. Any fasteners present may be removed using a robot arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Alex FIELDING, Kevin Christopher HALL, Kirk H. KNIGHT, Jens Jordan HURLEY, Jonathan Floyd GRUBB, Joseph David Dills HARTNAGLE
  • Publication number: 20180273412
    Abstract: A method and system of providing ultrapure water for semiconductor fabrication operations is provided. The water is treated by utilizing a free radical scavenging system. The free radical scavenging system can utilize actinic radiation with a free radical precursor compound, such as ammonium persulfate. The ultrapure water may be further treated by utilizing ion exchange media and degasification apparatus. A control system can be utilized to regulate a continuously variable intensity of the actinic radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Bruce Lee Coulter
  • Patent number: 10082007
    Abstract: A treatment assembly treats zones of a horizontal borehole. For example, the assembly can gravel pack a zone by delivering slurry down a workstring. The slurry exits the workstring's outlet and pass to the borehole annulus of the zone through a flow port in the assembly. The gravel in the slurry can pack the borehole in an alpha-beta wave from toe to heel, and the fluid returns from the borehole flow through a screen back into the assembly. After gravel packing, operators remove excess slurry from the workstring by reverse circulating down the assembly to carry the excess slurry uphole through the workstring. Closures on the assembly prevent the reverse circulation from communicating through the screens to the borehole annulus. Additionally, flow valves can be used on the flow ports to selectively open and close them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Broussard, Christopher A. Hall
  • Patent number: 10078923
    Abstract: A cable drum receives a length of working cable that is wound in and out from the drum in response to powered rotation of the drum with an uppermost layer of working cable on the drum forming a working surface. A torque sensor in communication with the cable drum measures a torque applied to the cable drum due to tension on the working cable from a load. A drum height gauge is provided for measuring a height of the working surface of the cable on the cable drum. A processor receives the torque value from the torque sensor and the height of the working surface from the drum height gauge and computes a force applied to the length of working cable due to the load based on the torque and height of the working surface. The work performed by the cable may be calculated to assist in determining cable health.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Tulsa Winch, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Justin Sallee, David Lloyd McCarthy, Shannon Jones, Darren Scott Barnes, Ian Christopher Hall, Robert Jay Shallow, John W. Hassell, Donald James McKay, Stephen Matthew Pollard
  • Publication number: 20180150522
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for the contextual retrieval and contextual display of records. A search query and/or search results may be contextually enhanced based on (i) natural language processing (NLP) models, (ii) user behavior, and/or (iii) relationships between various entities involved in a search, such as between users, records, and/or fields of expertise. Contextually enhanced search results may be delivered and displayed to a user on a user interface in a contextually relevant order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Michael MOSKWINSKI, Alex FIELDING, Kevin Christopher HALL, Kimberly LEMBO
  • Publication number: 20180141122
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize spoke support structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel spoke support structures to be used within these AM processes. The object includes a first portion and a second portion. A first distal end of the first portion is separated from a second distal end of the second portion by a portion of unfused powder. At least one support structure connects the first distal end to the second distal end. The method includes removing the object and the support structure from the powder bed. The method includes heat treating the object and the support structure. The support structure maintains dimensional stability of the object during the heat treatment. The method includes machining away the support structure from the first distal end and the second distal end after the heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Zachary David FIELDMAN, Christopher HALL
  • Patent number: 9977584
    Abstract: A computing device can periodically acquire a current track time for a media content item being played. The device can periodically compare the current track time with a respective start time and a respective end time for each line (or segment) in a plurality of lines of text (or segments of text) associated with the media content item. If the device determines that the current track time is between start and end times for a given line of text, then the device can display the given line of text. A user of the device can scroll through the lines of text associated with the media content item. If the user selects a particular line of text, the device can identify a start time for the selected line of text. The device can then play the media content item at the identified start time of the selected line of text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Toby Ray Latin-Stoermer, Jonathan Beech, Hari Gangadharan, Gabriela Ahern, Brandon Scott Durham, Darren Levi Malek, Ralph Cameron Harvey, Benjamin Lee Shepherd, Jason Christopher Hall, Andrew Powell McGoogan, Robert Richard Morse
  • Publication number: 20180134592
    Abstract: According to various aspects and embodiments, a system and method for treating groundwater contaminated with an organic contaminant is provided. According to some embodiments, the contaminated groundwater is treated by introducing a persulfate to produce a first treated aqueous solution, exposing the first treated aqueous solution to ultraviolet light to produce a second treated aqueous solution and one or more gases, and removing the one or more gases generated from exposing the first treated aqueous solution to the ultraviolet light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Adam Szczesniak, Jonathan H. Wood, Bruce L. Coulter, Christopher Hall
  • Publication number: 20180129729
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for classifying and tagging records in a record management system using information extracted and analyzed from specific areas or regions of records. A specific area or region of the record may be scanned, and the content disposed therein processed against a plurality of classification templates. Based on proximity to the classification templates, the record may be assigned one or more tags corresponding to the classification templates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Michael MOSKWINSKI, Alex FIELDING, Kevin Christopher HALL, Kimberly LEMBO
  • Publication number: 20180087347
    Abstract: A packer is used for setting downhole in tubing subject to downhole flow at a high flow rate. The packer includes a setting element, a slip element, and a packing element. The setting element is disposed on the packer toward an uphole end and is activated hydraulically to move in a downhole direction toward a downhole end of the packer. The slip element is disposed toward the downhole end and is moveable outward toward the tubing in a first stage in response to the movement of the setting element. The packing element is disposed on the other elements and is at least partially carried by the setting element. The packing element is compressible outward toward the tubing in a second stage, after the first stage, in response to the movement of the setting element. Additionally, a choke ring or other element disposed on the packer at least downhole of the packing element can move outward toward the tubing in response to the setting movement to restrict the downhole flow in the annulus to a lower flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: James A. Rochen, Shawn J. Treadaway, Tracy M. Martin, Christopher A. Hall
  • Publication number: 20180017065
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method of releasing a fan blade for testing a turbofan engine includes arranging an external shaped charge about an airfoil and modifying the airfoil by extricating one or more portions of material from one or more sides of the airfoil. The method further includes detonating the external shaped charge such that the airfoil is released at a selected time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Graham Burkholder, Xuekun Sun, Jeff Crutchfield, Ben Hodgson
  • Publication number: 20180016934
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method of releasing a fan blade for testing a turbofan engine includes providing an internal passage with a constant arc through an airfoil arranged about a blisk such that the constant arc of the internal passage aligns with a contour of the blisk. The method further includes packing the internal passage with a charge, modifying the airfoil such that the airfoil is released from the blisk evenly along a chordwise length of the airfoil, and detonating the charge such that the airfoil is released from the blisk at a selected time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Graham Burkholder, Xuekun Sun, Jeff Crutchfield, Ben Hodgson, Dennes Kyle Burney
  • Publication number: 20180017071
    Abstract: An assembly for attaching a nose cone to a turbofan engine includes a single center bolt connector, a nose cone, and a turbofan hub. Further, the single center bolt connector couples the nose cone to the turbofan hub and axially clamps the nose cone to the turbofan hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher Hall
  • Patent number: 9816065
    Abstract: A system is described herein that comprises one or more modular environmental photobioreactor arrays, each array containing two or more photobioreactors, wherein the system is adapted to monitor each of the photobioreactors and/or modulate the conditions with each of the photobioreactors. The photobioreactors are also adapted for measurement of multiple physiological parameters of a biomass contained therein. Various methods for selecting and characterizing biomass are also provided. In one embodiment, the biomass is algae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: David Kramer, Robert Zegarac, Ben F. Lucker, Christopher Hall, Casey Abernathy, Joel Carpenter, Jeffrey Cruz
  • Patent number: 9779379
    Abstract: A method and system related to container identification through an electrical receptacle and plug associated with the container of an intermodal freight transport system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method includes coupling an electrical power plug of a container and an electrical power receptacle of a transport vehicle. Also, the method includes activating a tracking device of the container through a switch and actuator coupling. Further, the method includes verifying an identity of the container upon coupling the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle through an identification tag of the container and an electronic reader. Furthermore, the method may include conserving battery power through deactivating the tracking device of the container when the electrical power plug is de-coupled to the electrical power receptacle. The method may also include delivering an alert message to a driver when an incorrect container is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Spireon, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Jason Wright, Jionghao Yu, Scott Anderson, Levi Marshall Baade