Patents by Inventor Grant Nicholas Hester

Grant Nicholas Hester 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).

  • Patent number: 10464108
    Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards apparatuses and methods which autonomously decontaminate parts. Parts to be cleaned are identified, and based on the identification of the part, a part specific cleaning program is initiated. During the cleaning, the part is manipulated about a gas supply in such a way that the drag force on the contamination particles attached to the part exceeds the contamination particles' surface adhesion force and accordingly is removed from the surface of the part. The removed contamination is then evacuated from the atmospheric environment near the part by a low pressure zone of a second gaseous material near the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Ronald Brown, Grant Nicholas Hester, Dennis Quinto Cruz, David Maxwell Harrold, Hans John Geittmann
  • Patent number: 9999949
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are provided for an automated presentment assembly that sequentially feeds fasteners to an outlet and an escapement apparatus comprising a chuck that has a transport feature for selectively removing a fastener from the outlet and transporting the fastener to a tool station, the chuck being moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein at the first position the transport feature is operably aligned with the outlet and at the second position the transport feature is displaced both linearly and rotationally from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Grant Nicholas Hester, John Rigsby
  • Publication number: 20170354997
    Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards apparatuses and methods which autonomously decontaminate parts. Parts to be cleaned are identified, and based on the identification of the part, a part specific cleaning program is initiated. During the cleaning, the part is manipulated about a gas supply in such a way that the drag force on the contamination particles attached to the part exceeds the contamination particles' surface adhesion force and accordingly is removed from the surface of the part. The removed contamination is then evacuated from the atmospheric environment near the part by a low pressure zone of a second gaseous material near the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy Ronald Brown, Grant Nicholas Hester, Dennis Quinto Cruz, David Maxwell Harrold, Hans John Geittmann
  • Patent number: 9744567
    Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards apparatuses and methods which autonomously decontaminate parts. Parts to be cleaned are identified, and based on the identification of the part, a part specific cleaning program is initiated. During the cleaning, the part is manipulated about a gas supply in such a way that the drag force on the contamination particles attached to the part exceeds the contamination particles' surface adhesion force and accordingly is removed from the surface of the part. The removed contamination is then evacuated from the atmospheric environment near the part by a low pressure zone of a second gaseous material near the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Ronald Brown, Grant Nicholas Hester, Dennis Quinto Cruz, David Maxwell Harrold, Hans John Geittmann
  • Publication number: 20160359314
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for a power dumper module capable of adapting to power requirements of its implementation. An exemplary adaptive power dumper module includes a power dump circuit configured to dump excess regenerative energy from a load when a voltage at an output to the load exceeds a trip voltage level, and an adaptive circuit configured to select the trip voltage level from a plurality of trip voltage levels based on a bus voltage of a power supply supplying power to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Suchet Rinsurongkawong, Grant Nicholas Hester, John W. Rigsby
  • Publication number: 20150209839
    Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards apparatuses and methods which autonomously decontaminate parts. Parts to be cleaned are identified, and based on the identification of the part, a part specific cleaning program is initiated. During the cleaning, the part is manipulated about a gas supply in such a way that the drag force on the contamination particles attached to the part exceeds the contamination particles' surface adhesion force and accordingly is removed from the surface of the part. The removed contamination is then evacuated from the atmospheric environment near the part by a low pressure zone of a second gaseous material near the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Ronald Brown, Grant Nicholas Hester, Dennis Quinto Cruz, David Maxwell Harrold, Hans John Geittmann
  • Patent number: 8313579
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are provided for treating a workpiece with a cryogenic impingement fluid. A fixture supports the workpiece in an upright position and operably connects an electrical component of the workpiece to a power source in the supported position. A cryogenic impingement fluid applicator sprays a stream of the cryogenic impingement fluid against the supported workpiece and laterally moves the stream in accordance with a predetermined path. A shield deflects the stream of cryogenic impingement fluid to prevent the stream from contacting at least a part of the workpiece as the stream is moved along the predetermined path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Quinto Cruz, David Maxwell Harrold, Grant Nicholas Hester, Timothy Ronald Brown
  • Publication number: 20110108071
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are provided for treating a workpiece with a cryogenic impingement fluid. A fixture supports the workpiece in an upright position and operably connects an electrical component of the workpiece to a power source in the supported position. A cryogenic impingement fluid applicator sprays a stream of the cryogenic impingement fluid against the supported workpiece and laterally moves the stream in accordance with a predetermined path. A shield deflects the stream of cryogenic impingement fluid to prevent the stream from contacting at least a part of the workpiece as the stream is moved along the predetermined path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Quinto Cruz, David Maxwell Harrold, Grant Nicholas Hester, Timothy Ronald Brown
  • Publication number: 20090071973
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are provided for an automated presentment assembly that sequentially feeds fasteners to an outlet and an escapement apparatus comprising a chuck that has a transport feature for selectively removing a fastener from the outlet and transporting the fastener to a tool station, the chuck being moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein at the first position the transport feature is operably aligned with the outlet and at the second position the transport feature is displaced both linearly and rotationally from the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Grant Nicholas Hester, John Rigsby