Patents by Inventor Michael J. Kirby
Michael J. Kirby 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).
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Patent number: 11970128Abstract: A sealed modular trim supplemental side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) module assembly includes a SABIC and a vehicle trim assembly encapsulating the SABIC. The SABIC is sealed within the vehicle trim assembly and provided as a complete compact module configured for subsequent attachment to a vehicle roll bar.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: William Mar, Alan R Kirby, Grant T Smith, Michael J Jarvis, Mark A Steinbach, Jerry Domulewicz
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Patent number: 10018305Abstract: A catalytic tank heater includes a removably attached catalytic heater cartridge having catalytic material. The heater is attached to an LPG tank to position the catalytic heater cartridge to face the tank. The catalytic heater cartridge covers a plenum chamber of the catalytic tank heater. A fuel distribution header and heating element are positioned within the plenum chamber and are controlled to initiate combustion of the catalytic material to heat the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the catalytic tank heater, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The catalytic heater cartridge can be replaced with a new cartridge while at the location of the tank on a property.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: ALGAS-SDI INTERNATIONAL LLCInventors: Michael J. Kirby, George M. Zimmer
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Publication number: 20170241639Abstract: A catalytic tank heater includes a catalytic heating element supported on an LPG tank by a support structure that holds the element in a position facing the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the heating element, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The heating element is internally separated into a pilot heater and a main heater, with respective separate fuel inlets. The pilot heater remains in continual operation, but the main heater is operated only while tank pressure is below a threshold. Operation of the pilot heater keeps a portion of the catalyst hot, so that, when tank pressure drops below the threshold, and fuel is supplied to the main heater, catalytic combustion quickly expands from the area surrounding the pilot heater to the remainder of the catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2016Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: George M. Zimmer, Jeffrey R. Ervin, Michael J. Kirby
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Patent number: 9523498Abstract: A catalytic tank heater includes a catalytic heating element supported on an LPG tank by a support structure that holds the element in a position facing the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the heating element, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The heating element is internally separated into a pilot heater and a main heater, with respective separate fuel inlets. The pilot heater remains in continual operation, but the main heater is operated only while tank pressure is below a threshold. Operation of the pilot heater keeps a portion of the catalyst hot, so that, when tank pressure drops below the threshold, and fuel is supplied to the main heater, catalytic combustion quickly expands from the area surrounding the pilot heater to the remainder of the catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Algas-SDI International LLCInventors: George M. Zimmer, Jeffrey R. Ervin, Michael J. Kirby
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Publication number: 20150260394Abstract: A catalytic tank heater includes a catalytic heating element supported on an LPG tank by a support structure that holds the element in a position facing the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the heating element, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The heating element is internally separated into a pilot heater and a main heater, with respective separate fuel inlets. The pilot heater remains in continual operation, but the main heater is operated only while tank pressure is below a threshold. Operation of the pilot heater keeps a portion of the catalyst hot, so that, when tank pressure drops below the threshold, and fuel is supplied to the main heater, catalytic combustion quickly expands from the area surrounding the pilot heater to the remainder of the catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: George M. Zimmer, Jeffrey R. Ervin, Michael J. Kirby
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Patent number: 8951041Abstract: A catalytic tank heater includes a catalytic heating element supported on an LPG tank by a support structure that holds the element in a position facing the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the heating element, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The heating element is internally separated into a pilot heater and a main heater, with respective separate fuel inlets. The pilot heater remains in continual operation, but the main heater is operated only while tank pressure is below a threshold. Operation of the pilot heater keeps a portion of the catalyst hot, so that, when tank pressure drops below the threshold, and fuel is supplied to the main heater, catalytic combustion quickly expands from the area surrounding the pilot heater to the remainder of the catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2011Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Algas-SDI International LLCInventors: George M. Zimmer, Jeffrey R. Ervin, Michael J. Kirby
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Publication number: 20140212822Abstract: A catalytic tank heater includes a removably attached catalytic heater cartridge having catalytic material. The heater is attached to an LPG tank to position the catalytic heater cartridge to face the tank. The catalytic heater cartridge covers a plenum chamber of the catalytic tank heater. A fuel distribution header and heating element are positioned within the plenum chamber and are controlled to initiate combustion of the catalytic material to heat the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the catalytic tank heater, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The catalytic heater cartridge can be replaced with a new cartridge while at the location of the tank on a property.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: ALGAS-SDI INTERNATIONAL LLCInventors: Michael J. Kirby, George M. Zimmer
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Patent number: 8521488Abstract: An algorithm is disclosed for constructing nonlinear models from high-dimensional scattered data. The algorithm progresses iteratively adding a new basis function at each step to refine the model. The placement of the basis functions is driven by a statistical hypothesis test that reveals geometric structure when it fails. At each step the added function is fit to data contained in a spatio-temporally defined local region to determine the parameters, in particular, the scale of the local model. The proposed method requires no ad hoc parameters. Thus, the number of basis functions required for an accurate fit is determined automatically by the algorithm. The approach may be applied to problems including modeling data on manifolds and the prediction of financial time-series. The algorithm is presented in the context of radial basis functions but in principle can be employed with other methods for function approximation such as multi-layer perceptrons.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: National Science FoundationInventors: Michael J. Kirby, Arthur A. Jamshidi
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Publication number: 20110311928Abstract: A catalytic tank heater includes a catalytic heating element supported on an LPG tank by a support structure that holds the element in a position facing the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the heating element, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The heating element is internally separated into a pilot heater and a main heater, with respective separate fuel inlets. The pilot heater remains in continual operation, but the main heater is operated only while tank pressure is below a threshold. Operation of the pilot heater keeps a portion of the catalyst hot, so that, when tank pressure drops below the threshold, and fuel is supplied to the main heater, catalytic combustion quickly expands from the area surrounding the pilot heater to the remainder of the catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: ALGAS-SDI INTERNATIONAL LLCInventors: George M. Zimmer, Jeffrey R. Ervin, Michael J. Kirby
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Patent number: 8046200Abstract: An algorithm is disclosed for constructing nonlinear models from high-dimensional scattered data. The algorithm progresses iteratively adding a new basis function at each step to refine the model. The placement of the basis functions is driven by a statistical hypothesis test that reveals geometric structure when it fails. At each step the added function is fit to data contained in a spatio-temporally defined local region to determine the parameters, in particular, the scale of the local model. The proposed method requires no ad hoc parameters. Thus, the number of basis functions required for an accurate fit is determined automatically by the algorithm. The approach may be applied to problems including modeling data on manifolds and the prediction of financial time-series. The algorithm is presented in the context of radial basis functions but in principle can be employed with other methods for function approximation such as multi-layer perceptrons.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Colorado State University Research FoundationInventors: Michael J. Kirby, Arthur A. Jamshidi
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Publication number: 20110257950Abstract: An algorithm is disclosed for constructing nonlinear models from high-dimensional scattered data. The algorithm progresses iteratively adding a new basis function at each step to refine the model. The placement of the basis functions is driven by a statistical hypothesis test that reveals geometric structure when it fails. At each step the added function is fit to data contained in a spatio-temporally defined local region to determine the parameters, in particular, the scale of the local model. The proposed method requires no ad hoc parameters. Thus, the number of basis functions required for an accurate fit is determined automatically by the algorithm. The approach may be applied to problems including modeling data on manifolds and the prediction of financial time-series. The algorithm is presented in the context of radial basis functions but in principle can be employed with other methods for function approximation such as multi-layer perceptrons.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: Colorado State University Research FoundationInventors: Michael J. Kirby, Arthur A. Jamshidi
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Publication number: 20090043547Abstract: An algorithm is disclosed for constructing nonlinear models from high-dimensional scattered data. The algorithm progresses iteratively adding a new basis function at each step to refine the model. The placement of the basis functions is driven by a statistical hypothesis test that reveals geometric structure when it fails. At each step the added function is fit to data contained in a spatio-temporally defined local region to determine the parameters, in particular, the scale of the local model. The proposed method requires no ad hoc parameters. Thus, the number of basis functions required for an accurate fit is determined automatically by the algorithm. The approach may be applied to problems including modeling data on manifolds and the prediction of financial time-series. The algorithm is presented in the context of radial basis functions but in principle can be employed with other methods for function approximation such as multi-layer perceptrons.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2007Publication date: February 12, 2009Applicant: Colorado State University Research FoundationInventors: Michael J. Kirby, Arthur A. Jamshidi
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Patent number: 5640930Abstract: An automatic cleaning aquarium has a top aquatic section (1) with vertical walls (2) and a bottom waste section (3) having tapered walls (4) which funnel to a valved flushing orifice (5). A grate-supported screen (8, 9) separates the top aquatic section from the bottom waste section. The valved flushing orifice and a discharge conveyance (11) are large enough to permit effectively fast flushing of the grate-supported screen and the tapered walls of the bottom waste section. Positioning of the valved flushing orifice can be designed for various sizes and uses of the aquariums. Air for aeration and circulation of water in the aquarium is supplied centrally or optionally through an aeration pipe (17) extended near end-to-end and having a plurality of aeration orifices (20). A water tap or a pail with suitable water can be used to refill the top aquatic section after flushing.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1995Date of Patent: June 24, 1997Inventor: Michael J. Kirby
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Patent number: 5472049Abstract: A method for fracturing formations near a shallow horizontal well notches a wellbore at orientations such that later applied hydraulic pressure generates fractures only in preferred directions.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1994Date of Patent: December 5, 1995Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Brent F. Chaffee, Brian J. Kelly, Jeffery W. Koepke, Michael J. Kirby
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Patent number: 4648215Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a coherent stream of high velocity abrasive laden liquid. The method includes allowing the particles to assume the direction and velocity of a high velocity jet of liquid. This method also allows concentration of particles in the center of the flow of liquid to reduce nozzle wear and increase cutting efficiency. The apparatus includes a nozzle having a converging section attached to a straight section that is sufficiently large that the abrasive particles approach the velocity of the fluid jet before exit of the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1985Date of Patent: March 10, 1987Assignee: Flow Industries, Inc.Inventors: Mohamed A. Hashish, Michael J. Kirby, Yih-Ho Pao
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Patent number: D311103Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 1987Date of Patent: October 9, 1990Assignee: Interstate Brands CorporationInventor: Michael J. Kirby