Patents by Inventor Robert E. Kauffman

Robert E. Kauffman 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: 9983089
    Abstract: A persistent color change liquid indicator includes a backing layer, a penetration layer, and a reaction layer. The backing layer has an indication color. The penetration layer includes a liquid structure to allow a liquid to travel through the penetration layer to the reaction layer. The penetration layer is opaque when dry and translucent when exposed to the liquid is to allow the indication color to be visible. The reaction layer reacts to the presence of the liquid such that the visibility of the indication color persists after exposure to the liquid ceases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: University of Dayton
    Inventor: Robert E. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20160298986
    Abstract: A persistent color change liquid indicator includes a backing layer, a penetration layer, and a reaction layer. The backing layer has an indication color. The penetration layer includes a liquid structure to allow a liquid to travel through the penetration layer to the reaction layer. The penetration layer is opaque when dry and translucent when exposed to the liquid is to allow the indication color to be visible. The reaction layer reacts to the presence of the liquid such that the visibility of the indication color persists after exposure to the liquid ceases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventor: Robert E. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 9451339
    Abstract: A sensor transmitter for communicating wirelessly a presence of a condition within a metal enclosure includes a power supply, at least one sensor where each sensor senses a presence of a condition, and a low frequency generator positioned within a metal enclosure and electrically coupled to the power supply and the at least one sensor. The low frequency generator transmits a low frequency wireless signal indicative of the presence of the condition within the metal enclosure when the condition is present at one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: University of Dayton
    Inventors: Robert E. Kauffman, J. Douglas Wolf
  • Publication number: 20150215684
    Abstract: A sensor transmitter for communicating wirelessly a presence of a condition within a metal enclosure includes a power supply, at least one sensor where each sensor senses a presence of a condition, and a low frequency generator positioned within a metal enclosure and electrically coupled to the power supply and the at least one sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Robert E. Kauffman, J. Douglas Wolf
  • Patent number: 8624118
    Abstract: A water-soluble polymer coating for application to electrical wiring used in aircraft and other electrical structures is provided. The coating includes a water-soluble polymer such as polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, and methyl cellulose which is dissolved in water to form a solution. The solution may be applied to electrical wiring during manufacturing and dried to a film such that if the wire becomes damaged and exposed to water, a protective water-insoluble deposit is formed on the wiring. Alternatively, the solution may be applied to wiring which is already damaged to form a protective water-insoluble deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: University of Dayton
    Inventor: Robert E. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 8512547
    Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a method of determining the individual concentration of different antioxidants of the same class in a sample comprising contacting the sample with an effective amount of phenol; and analyzing the sample by voltammetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Robert E. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 8395521
    Abstract: Smart aerospace structures are described herein utilizing a deactivated RFID tag including an IC and an electrical by-pass. The electrical by-pass is conductive and the electrical by-pass is in parallel with the IC such that the deactivated RFID becomes activated upon an abnormal condition, such as an improper clamp installation, a clamp failure, an impact, a thermal event or a crack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: University of Dayton
    Inventors: Robert E. Kauffman, J. Douglas Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120292203
    Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a method of determining the individual concentration of different antioxidants of the same class in a sample comprising contacting the sample with an effective amount of phenol; and analyzing the sample by voltammetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: Robert E. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 8187455
    Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a method of determining the individual concentration of different antioxidants of the same class in a sample comprising contacting the sample with an effective amount of phenol; and analyzing the sample by voltammetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Socomer NV.
    Inventor: Robert E. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 7927877
    Abstract: A method of analyzing biodiesel content in a fuel sample generally includes providing a fuel sample including at least one of a biodiesel and other diesel fuel; mixing a predetermined amount of solvent to the fuel sample, wherein the fuel sample is soluble in the solvent; mixing a predetermined amount of water to the fuel sample; analyzing the fuel sample for a change; and associating the change with a biodiesel content in the fuel sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Herguth Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20100295694
    Abstract: Smart aerospace structures are described herein utilizing a deactivated RFID tag including an IC and an electrical by-pass. The electrical by-pass is conductive and the electrical by-pass is in parallel with the IC such that the deactivated RFID becomes activated upon an abnormal condition, such as an improper clamp installation, a clamp failure, an impact, a thermal event or a crack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON
    Inventors: Robert E. Kauffman, J. Douglas Wolf
  • Publication number: 20100012529
    Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a method of determining the individual concentration of different antioxidants of the same class in a sample comprising contacting the sample with an effective amount of phenol; and analyzing the sample by voltammetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: FLUITEC INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Robert E. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 7593107
    Abstract: A system for measuring light absorption levels includes a light source providing a light beam and a container for a liquid. The container includes an opening to provide access to the liquid. A prism is disposed over the opening and is operable to direct at least a first portion of the light beam toward the opening to the liquid such that the at least a portion of the first portion of the light beam is reflected back from the liquid forming an attenuated beam. A detector is operable to measure at least one of a portion of the attenuated beam and a second portion of the light beam. The detector is operable to produce at least one of a liquid measurement signal and a reference signal. A device is operable to compute a ratio of the liquid measurement signal to the reference signal to determine a signal ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James D. Wolf, Robert E. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20080210453
    Abstract: A water-soluble polymer coating for application to electrical wiring used in aircraft and other electrical structures is provided. The coating includes a water-soluble polymer such as polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, and methyl cellulose which is dissolved in water to form a solution. The solution may be applied to electrical wiring during manufacturing and dried to a film such that if the wire becomes damaged and exposed to water, a protective water-insoluble deposit is formed on the wiring. Alternatively, the solution may be applied to wiring which is already damaged to form a protective water-insoluble deposit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Robert E. Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20080165361
    Abstract: A method of detecting the amount of sulfur compounds in fuels such as ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuels is provided in which a fuel sample is reacted with a solvent and an oxidizing agent to produce a reaction product which may be analyzed by visual observation and/or in combination with spectrophotometric or colorimetric analysis. The oxidizing agent may be selected from potassium permanganate, sodium dichromate, nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, and sodium hypochlorite, and may be used in combination with an acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Robert E. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 7375813
    Abstract: A system for measuring light absorption levels for a liquid for use in a printing system includes a light source adapted to provide a divergent beam of light, a liquid container with a hole that acts as a focusing lens, and a prism disposed over the hole to split the divergent beam of light into a reference beam and a measurement beam. The systems include a measurement detector to measure the intensity of the focused beam to produce a liquid measurement signal. A reference detector measures the intensity of the reference beam for compensating the effects of temperature and light source variations on the system signals. A device calculates signal ratios and stores the ratios so that the signal ratios of subsequent colored liquids can be converted into colorant concentrations from a look-up table or through calculations using a signal ratio/colorant concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James D. Wolf, Robert E. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 7043967
    Abstract: The present invention is a compact apparatus and method that provides an efficient manner for monitoring the condition and level of a functional fluid directly in operating equipment. A sensor device is provided that includes a plurality of liquid sensors and a plurality of vapor sensors that when used in conjunction with one another at different temperatures, can provide a thorough evaluation of the oxidative degradation, liquid contamination and solid contamination of the fluid to detect the end of the useful life of the fluid. By providing liquid sensors and vapor sensors on the same device, the present invention allows for a compact, efficient, and economically feasible manner to monitor the condition of fluid as well as detecting abnormal operating conditions prior to further component damage and eventual equipment failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: University of Dayton
    Inventors: Robert E. Kauffman, James D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20040060344
    Abstract: The present invention is a compact apparatus and method that provides an efficient manner for monitoring the condition and level of a functional fluid directly in operating equipment. A sensor device is provided that includes a plurality of liquid sensors and a plurality of vapor sensors that when used in conjunction with one another at different temperatures, can provide a thorough evaluation of the oxidative degradation, liquid contamination and solid contamination of the fluid to detect the end of the useful life of the fluid. By providing liquid sensors and vapor sensors on the same device, the present invention allows for a compact, efficient, and economically feasible manner to monitor the condition of fluid as well as detecting abnormal operating conditions prior to further component damage and eventual equipment failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Robert E. Kauffman, James D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20020159588
    Abstract: In a pseudorandom coding cipher system and method, a sender generates a pseudorandom shift key using a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) with seed and/or multiplier numbers from a one-time pad. A plaintext message is converted into a numerical synonym string, wherein the first number of the string is shifted with the shift key. The shift value is then passed through a one-way function to place the shift value in the range of numerical synonyms representative of the plaintext alphabet. This process is repeated until the entire numerical string has been shifted with a respective shift key and passed through the one-way function to produce a cryptogram. To decrypt, the reverse operation is performed to recover the plaintext message. Communications between the sender and a receiver is preferably performed according to a double-key lock box scenario employing double use of the above encryption and decryption methods making one-time pad distribution unnecessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Jason R. Kauffman, Robert E. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 5933016
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the analysis of a fluid to determine the remaining useful life of the fluid and whether the fluid has become contaminated. The method can be performed either on-line or off-line, however, the on-line method is preferred. In the method, a sample of the fluid is contacted by a single electrode which is connected to the ground potential by means of the equipment in which the fluid is used. A current is applied to the sample through the electrode and the conductivity of the sample is measured. The conductivity measurement can then compared to known values for the fluid to determine the remaining useful life of the fluid and whether the fluid has become contaminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: The University of Dayton
    Inventors: Robert E. Kauffman, James D. Wolf