Patents by Inventor Keith A. Roberts

Keith A. Roberts 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: 10352567
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fuel-air premixer for a turbine system. The fuel-air premixer includes a swirler and a centerbody. The swirler is configured to direct a flow of air through the premixer, and the centerbody is configured to inject fuel into the flow of air. Additionally, the centerbody includes an airfoil shape that reduces and/or substantially eliminates recirculation pockets to prevent autoignition and/or flame holding in a combustion chamber. Accordingly, the turbine system may produce fewer NOx emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Liangyu Wang, Anthony John Dean, Keith Robert McManus, Kapil Kumar Singh, Suhui Li, Sravan Kumar Dheeraj Kapilavai, Mathew Paul Thariyan, Owen Graham
  • Publication number: 20190202658
    Abstract: A method includes determining that an elevator car is arriving at a landing at which re-leveling is anticipated; upon the elevator car arriving at the landing at which re-leveling is anticipated, initiating the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation to reduce elevator car sag at the landing; monitoring transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over a period of time; terminating the at least one of the brake cycling operation and the power cycling operation upon at least one of (i) the transfer of weight to or from the elevator car at the landing over the period of time being less than a threshold and (ii) the elevator car sag at the landing meeting a sag threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Randall Keith Roberts, Ronnie E. Thebeau, Michael Garfinkel, Edward Piedra, Dennis Hanvey, Daniel Rush
  • Publication number: 20190192318
    Abstract: A polymeric stent having a length, an outer surface and a cross-section. A lumen passes through the entire length, the lumen having a surface forming an equivalent diameter in the polymeric stent. The polymeric stent includes a first aqueous-swellable, biocompatible and biodegradable composition (e.g., polymer) having a thickness. The aqueous-swellable and biodegradable polymer retaining structural integrity for at least 1 hours up to thirty days when swollen to between 15% and 500% of its dry diameter and kept moist by a moist aqueous environment. Barrier layers of biodegradable polymer(s) may be used to prevent migration of liquids into the lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Michael R. Spearman, John Henry Burban, John William Shanahan, Keith A. Roberts, Peter Joseph Catalano
  • Patent number: 10265201
    Abstract: A polymeric stent having a length, an outer surface and a cross-section. A lumen passes through the entire length, the lumen having a surface forming an equivalent diameter in the polymeric stent. The polymeric stent includes a first aqueous-swellable, biocompatible and biodegradable composition (e.g., polymer) having a thickness. The aqueous-swellable and biodegradable polymer retaining structural integrity for at least 1 hours up to thirty days when swollen and kept moist by a moist aqueous environment. Barrier layers of biodegradable polymer(s) may be used to prevent migration of liquids into the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Inventors: Michael R. Spearman, John Henry Burban, John William Shanahan, Keith A. Roberts, Peter Joseph Catalano
  • Patent number: 10252879
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to determining that an elevator car of an elevator system is approaching a landing, obtaining, by a controller, a value for at least one parameter associated with the elevator system based on the determination that the elevator car is approaching the landing, determining that the elevator car arrives at the landing within a threshold distance, determining, by the controller, when to engage in at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation based on the value for the at least one parameter and based on determining that the elevator car arrives at the landing within the threshold distance, and initiating the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation at a time corresponding to the determination of when to engage in the at least one of a brake cycling operation and a power cycling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Amir Lotfi, Randall Keith Roberts, Ronnie E. Thebeau, Michael Garfinkel, Edward Piedra, Dennis Hanvey, Daniel Rush
  • Patent number: 10233659
    Abstract: A lounge assembly comprising a lower wall assembly including first and second substantially planar wall sections, the first and second wall sections forming first and second internal surfaces, respectively, that form an angle and at least in part define an assembly space, a lounge chair assembly including a seat and a backrest, the seat including a front edge portion and the backrest including first and second side edges, the lounge chair assembly mounted at least in part within the assembly space with the seat at a first height with a front surface of the backrest facing away from the first internal surface and the first side edge spaced apart from the second internal surface and a worksurface member having a flat and substantially horizontal tabletop surface and a circumferential edge that defines a tabletop shape, the worksurface member supported within the assembly space at a second height above the first height of the seat with a rear portion thereof extending between the first side edge and an adjacent
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: STEELCASE INC.
    Inventors: Russell T Holdredge, Sean Corcorran, David K Jones, Duck Young Kong, Todd Krupiczewicz, Keith Robert Machin, Mark McKenna, Gordon Peterson, Mark William Spoelhof, Pradeep Mydur, David J Battey
  • Patent number: 10221763
    Abstract: A combustor is configured to operate in a rotating detonation mode and a deflagration mode. The combustor includes a housing and at least one initiator. The housing defines at least one combustion chamber and is configured for a deflagration process to occur within the at least one combustion chamber during operation in the deflagration mode and a rotating detonation process to occur within the at least one combustion chamber during operation in the rotating detonation mode. The at least one initiator is configured to initiate the rotating detonation process within the at least one combustion chamber during operation in the rotating detonation mode and to initiate the deflagration process within the at least one combustion chamber during operation in the deflagration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala, Andrew Maxwell Peter, Kapil Kumar Singh, Keith Robert McManus, Joel Haynes, Anthony Dean
  • Patent number: 10198837
    Abstract: A method of displaying a network graph with a computing system includes accessing data defining a network and including a plurality of vertices and a plurality of edges. If a number of vertices included in the network graph is below a first threshold, the network graph is locally rendering with a scalable vector graphics rendering engine of the computing system. If a number of vertices included in the network graph is between the first threshold and a second, higher, threshold, the network graph is locally rendered with a raster rendering engine of the computing system. If a number of vertices included in the network graph is above the second threshold, a remotely-rendered network graph rendered by a remote rendering engine is received at the computing system. The method further includes displaying the rendered network graph via a web browser of the computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Moses Yap, Keith Robert Kinnan, Sean Richard Smith, Derrick Yeqiang Quan, Jason Thomas McNamee, Saliha Azzam
  • Patent number: 10145214
    Abstract: An energy storage system is disclosed. The energy storage system comprises an energy storage device configured to operate above ambient temperature, and a thermal insulator at least partially surrounding the energy storage device, wherein heat losses from one or more other devices are received within the thermal insulator to provide heat energy to the energy storage device. Utilizing heat losses from one or more other devices, such as associated electronic components, enables the energy storage device to be maintained at its elevated operational temperature for longer providing extended battery life. In the application of wireline logging, this results in more data log available per trip in a well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SONDEX WIRELINE LIMITED
    Inventors: Guy Harvey Mason, Steven Bill Ellenby, Keith Robert Wootten
  • Publication number: 20180336588
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide a customer engagement platform experimentation framework. Experiments are created to determine which variation of a particular promotion (i.e., an experiment) is most effective. Initially, users are split into buckets that define whether a particular user is in a control group or a treatment group for a particular experiment. Users are assigned into buckets differently for unrelated experiments and similarly for related experiments. This ensures the users are in either the control group or the treatment group for all related experiments. Key performance indicators (KPIs) of users that experienced the experiment are compared with KPIs of users that did not experience the experiment. An assessment of the experiment can then be provided based on the compared KPIs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Naganandhini KOHARESWARAN, Ling-Ya HUANG, Einat HAZAN, Harish JAYANTI, Keith Robert KINNAN, Jayaram N.M. NANDURI, Jagannatha Raju DANTULURI
  • Publication number: 20180322667
    Abstract: A method of displaying a network graph with a computing system includes accessing data defining a network and including a plurality of vertices and a plurality of edges. If a number of vertices included in the network graph is below a first threshold, the network graph is locally rendering with a scalable vector graphics rendering engine of the computing system. If a number of vertices included in the network graph is between the first threshold and a second, higher, threshold, the network graph is locally rendered with a raster rendering engine of the computing system. If a number of vertices included in the network graph is above the second threshold, a remotely-rendered network graph rendered by a remote rendering engine is received at the computing system. The method further includes displaying the rendered network graph via a web browser of the computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Moses YAP, Keith Robert KINNAN, Sean Richard SMITH, Derrick Yeqiang QUAN, Jason Thomas MCNAMEE, Saliha AZZAM
  • Patent number: 10118802
    Abstract: A structural health monitoring system is provided. The system includes a drive system having a first drive member a second drive member 38 operationally connected to the first drive member, and a tension member 39 operationally connecting the first drive member to the second drive member. At least one sensor 50 is configured to monitor a characteristic of at least one of the first drive member and the second drive member. A processor 54, in communication with the at least one sensor, is configured to determine if the structural health of the tension member is compromised based on the monitored characteristic. The processor is further configured to perform a safety response action when the structural health of the tension member is determined to be compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Soumitra Borthakur, Randall Keith Roberts
  • Publication number: 20180192777
    Abstract: A seating unit for use in a space including a supporting floor surface, the seating unit comprising a seat structure comprising a mounting bracket having a female connector, a tablet assembly comprising a support arm having a mounting collar on an end and a base having a lower end to be supported by the floor surface and including a base mounting assembly and wherein the base mounting assembly comprises a cup attached to the base, a base tube having a first end inserted into the cup and a second end extending through the mounting collar and mateably engaging the female connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Sean M. Corcorran, Keith Robert Machin, Cody Jay Holstege, William Carey, Larry Cheng, Elger Oberwelz, Thomas Overthun, Lukas Martin Scherrer, Joerg Christoph Student, David J. Battey, Nickolaus William Charles Deevers
  • Patent number: 10011953
    Abstract: Absorbent members, especially bulked absorbent members, and methods of making the same are disclosed. The absorbent member may be in the form of a unitary absorbent fibrous layer comprising at least some cellulose fibers. The unitary absorbent fibrous layer is at least partially stratified through its thickness. The absorbent member may also have a plurality of discrete deformations, such as depressions and/or apertures in its surfaces. The method involves subjecting a precursor web to at least one cycle (or pass) through a mechanical deformation process. The mechanical deformation process utilizes a first forming member and a second forming member that form a nip therebetween through which the precursor web is passed. The first and second forming members are moving at different speeds relative to each other when they come together to form the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Joseph Curro, Jill Marlene Orr, Keith Robert Priessman, John Brian Strube
  • Publication number: 20180179953
    Abstract: A combustor is configured to operate in a rotating detonation mode and a deflagration mode. The combustor includes a housing and at least one initiator. The housing defines at least one combustion chamber and is configured for a deflagration process to occur within the at least one combustion chamber during operation in the deflagration mode and a rotating detonation process to occur within the at least one combustion chamber during operation in the rotating detonation mode. The at least one initiator is configured to initiate the rotating detonation process within the at least one combustion chamber during operation in the rotating detonation mode and to initiate the deflagration process within the at least one combustion chamber during operation in the deflagration mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala, Andrew Maxwell Peter, Kapil Kumar Singh, Keith Robert McManus, Joel Haynes, Anthony Dean
  • Publication number: 20180179951
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes at least one compressor configured to increase pressure of a fluid flow and a primary combustor coupled in flow communication with the at least one compressor. The primary combustor is configured to receive pressurized fluid flow from the at least one compressor. The primary combustor includes a housing defining at least one combustion chamber. The primary combustor is configured for a rotating detonation process to occur within said at least one combustion chamber. The turbine engine also includes at least one supplemental combustor coupled in flow communication with the primary combustor. The at least one supplemental combustor is configured to receive combustion products and perform a combustion operation. The turbine engine further includes a turbine assembly coupled in flow communication with the at least one supplemental combustor. The turbine assembly is configured to receive combustion products from the at least one supplemental combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala, Keith Robert McManus, Michael Bowman, Narendra Joshi, Joel Haynes, Anthony Dean
  • Patent number: 9962003
    Abstract: A seating unit for use in a space including a supporting floor surface, the seating unit comprising a seat structure comprising a mounting bracket having a female connector, a tablet assembly comprising a support arm having a mounting collar on an end and a base having a lower end to be supported by the floor surface and including a base mounting assembly and wherein the base mounting assembly comprises a cup attached to the base, a base tube having a first end inserted into the cup and a second end extending through the mounting collar and mateably engaging the female connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: STEELCASE, INC.
    Inventors: Sean M Corcorran, Keith Robert Machin, Cody Jay Holstege, William Carey, Larry Cheng, Elger Oberwelz, Thomas Overthun, Lukas Martin Scherrer, Joerg Christoph Student, David J Battey, Nickolaus William Charles Deevers
  • Publication number: 20180071118
    Abstract: A polymeric stent having a length, an outer surface and a cross-section. A lumen passes through the entire length, the lumen having a surface forming an equivalent diameter in the polymeric stent. The polymeric stent includes a first aqueous-swellable, biocompatible and biodegradable composition (e.g., polymer) having a thickness. The aqueous-swellable and biodegradable polymer retaining structural integrity for at least 1 hours up to thirty days when swollen and kept moist by a moist aqueous environment. Barrier layers of biodegradable polymer(s) may be used to prevent migration of liquids into the lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Michael R. Spearman, John Henry Burban, John William Shanahan, Keith A. Roberts, Peter Joseph Catalano
  • Patent number: 9914619
    Abstract: A method of operating an elevator system includes detecting a building sway which causes sway of elevator suspension or compensation members. An elevator control system is switched into a building sway mode, and operation of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system is changed via the building sway mode to mitigate vibratory effects of the building sway on the one or more elevator cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall Keith Roberts, George Scott Copeland, Theresa M. Christy
  • Publication number: 20180044138
    Abstract: A method and system for managing an elevator system (10), includes providing a plurality of elevator cars (14) to travel in a hoistway (11), and selectively introducing and removing at least one of the plurality of elevator cars (14) to and from the hoistway (11) via a loading station (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Randall Keith Roberts, Zbigniew Piech, Adam Marian Myszkowski, Cezary Jedryczka, Wojciech Szelag, Tadeusz Witczak, Enrico Manes, Richard N. Fargo, Bryan Robert Siewert