Patents by Inventor Robert L. Miller

Robert L. Miller 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: 20130026107
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for filtering contaminated water from an oil or gas well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: 8303824
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for filtering contaminated water from an oil or gas well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: 8295555
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing coverings such as leather hides and fabrics are provided. A system can include a worktable having a surface on which a covering is placeable. An imaging device can be positionable relative to the worktable. The imaging device can be configured to obtain an image of the covering on the surface of the worktable. A projector can be positionable relative to worktable. The projector can be configured to project an image onto the surface of the worktable and the covering on the surface of the worktable. A controller can be in communication with the imaging device and projector. The controller can be configured to correct images taken by the imaging device. The controller can also be configured to correct the images projected onto the surface of the worktable and the covering thereon. The controller can be configured to permit the showing of virtual markings on the covering placed on the surface of the worktable through an image projected thereon by the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Automated Vision, LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Campbell, Jr., Charles A. Leonard, Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: 8215100
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment device for a combustion system is disclosed. The exhaust treatment device may have a housing, and an injector disposed within the housing to deliver an injection fluid into a flow of exhaust. The exhaust treatment device may also have at least one fluid supply passage that is disposed within the housing and being in fluid communication with the injector to supply the injector with injection fluid. The exhaust treatment device may further have at least one purge passage disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the injector to supply the injector with a purge fluid. The exhaust treatment device may additionally have a first valve element that is mounted to the housing and disposed at an entrance of the at least one purge passage The first valve element may be configured to provide a unidirectional flow of purge fluid to the at least one purge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Miller, Stephen M. Wiley, Glenn B. Cox, Thomas Randall McClure
  • Publication number: 20110280449
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing coverings such as leather hides and fabrics are provided. A system can include a worktable having a surface on which a covering is placeable. An imaging device can be positionable relative to the worktable. The imaging device can be configured to obtain an image of the covering on the surface of the worktable. A projector can be positionable relative to worktable. The projector can be configured to project an image onto the surface of the worktable and the covering on the surface of the worktable. A controller can be in communication with the imaging device and projector. The controller can be configured to correct images taken by the imaging device. The controller can also be configured to correct the images projected onto the surface of the worktable and the covering thereon. The controller can be configured to permit the showing of virtual markings on the covering placed on the surface of the worktable through an image projected thereon by the projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Robert L. Campbell, JR., Charles A. Leonard, Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: 8056324
    Abstract: An regeneration system for use in a power system is disclosed. The regeneration system may include a source of intake air, an engine brake configured to reduce the speed of an engine by compression and release of the intake air, and a valve configured to divert a portion of the intake air to an auxiliary device. The regeneration system may further include a controller in communication with the engine brake and the valve. The controller may be configured to move the valve to reduce the portion of intake air diverted to the auxiliary device when the engine brake is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Wiley, Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: 8056326
    Abstract: A regeneration device for use in an exhaust treatment system is disclosed. The regeneration device has a first housing with a plurality of passages configured to receive coolant and injection fluid. A second housing is secured to the first housing and configured to receive coolant and injection fluid. The second housing has at least one cooling recess annularly disposed within the second housing to receive and circulate coolant in proximity to a tip end of the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn B. Cox, Thomas R. McClure, Robert L. Miller, Stephen M. Wiley
  • Publication number: 20110266208
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for filtering contaminated water from an oil or gas well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: 7998344
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for filtering contaminated water from an oil or gas well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Publication number: 20110114288
    Abstract: A tower (A) for effecting heat transfer or chemical reactions contains a packing (B) formed from a multitude of packing elements (2, 28). Each element includes a peripheral wall (10, 30) and a convoluted interior wall (12, 32) that spirals inwardly from the peripheral wall toward the center of the element, thus forming a convoluted passage (14, 34) through the element. The convoluted passages in the elements capture the flow of fluid through the packing so that less fluid follows voids between the elements and more flows through the elements. Moreover, the convoluted interior wall of each element provides a large surface area for heat transfer or chemical reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: ACID PIPING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: 7926262
    Abstract: A regeneration device is disclosed. The regeneration device may include a housing and a perforated plate. The housing may have a passage configured to receive a flow of combustion air, and a separate bore configured to receive an electrical device. The perforated plate may be mounted to the housing to at least partially define an air chamber. Furthermore, the regeneration device may include at least one purge passageway located to communicate combustion air from the air chamber with the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn B. Cox, Thomas R. McClure, Robert L. Miller, Stephen M. Wiley
  • Publication number: 20110031691
    Abstract: A portable tabletop sporting game apparatus includes a game board having at least one opening formed therein. A pair of legs are attached to the game hoard in order to elevate the game board generally off of the ground. A lever is operatively attached to an underside of the game board and in communication with a man game piece. The man game piece is disposed through the game board opening, such that when the lever is depressed, the man game piece is forced upwardly through the game board opening in order to block or lift a ball, which is being pushed, moved or nudged across the game board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller, JR.
  • Patent number: 7878162
    Abstract: A variable valve actuation system is disclosed for providing exhaust to at least one component downstream of an engine. The system includes a supply of low pressure fluid, an engine fluid sump, and an exhaust valve disposed in an engine cylinder. The system also includes a hydraulic actuation system operably connected to the exhaust valve of the engine cylinder and a braking control valve operably connected to the hydraulic actuation system. The system further includes a device for accumulating fluid and a device for fluidly coupling the hydraulic actuation system to the accumulating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. McClure, Sean O. Cornell, Robert L. Miller, John S. Pipis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7862013
    Abstract: A chemical processing apparatus that utilizes randomly oriented ceramic packing elements having at least three openings therethrough that accommodate feedstock with combustible and/or noncombustible matter that accumulates in the openings is described. The openings occupy at least 10% of the surface area on one side of the packing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Miller, Hassan S. Niknafs
  • Patent number: 7849682
    Abstract: An aftertreatment burner for an exhaust treatment device is disclosed. The aftertreatment burner may have a mounting member, and a canister connected to the mounting member to form a combustion chamber. The aftertreatment burner may also have a fuel injector disposed within the mounting member to selectively inject fuel into combustion chamber, and an air supply line configured to supply air to the combustion chamber. The aftertreatment burner may further have an igniter disposed within the mounting member to ignite the fuel/air mixture, and a thermal couple configured to detect the ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Robert L. Miller, Thomas Randall McClure, Kevin James Karkkainen
  • Patent number: 7775507
    Abstract: The invention provides novel ceramic mass transfer packing elements with physical characteristics that maximize efficiency of mass transfer and minimize pressure drop when randomly dumped in a chemical reactor. In some embodiments, the elements may have: a ratio of surface area of the interaction zone to surface area of the flow through zone between 1:0.5 and 1:3; and the interaction zone surface area occupies between 45% and 70% of the open face surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hassan S. Niknafs, Robert L. Miller, Daniel C. Sherman
  • Publication number: 20100177796
    Abstract: A laser module comprising a laser device attached to a heat sink that is configured to provide a relatively low thermal resistance for thermal management of the laser device, and an aggregate coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is substantially matched to the CTE of the laser device for reducing stress caused by thermal cycles. The heat sink includes a shell made out of a first material, and a core situated within the shell and made out of a second material distinct from the first material of the shell. By properly selecting the first and second materials, configuring the thickness of the shell directly under the location to which the laser device will be attached with respect to the thickness of the core, the desired effective or aggregate CTE and thermal resistance of the heat sink may be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Newport Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: 7721702
    Abstract: A spark plug arrangement for an exhaust treatment device is disclosed. The spark plug arrangement may have a body, and a center electrode extending from an end of the body. The spark plug arrangement may further have a mounting member with a bore configured to receive the body, and a grounded electrode extending proximal the center electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Miller, Thomas Randall McClure, Kevin James Karkkainen, Robert Matthew Lucas
  • Patent number: 7642426
    Abstract: Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated G07-NPXA5489, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line G07-NPXA5489 with plants of another corn plants. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line G07-NPXA5489 and plants produced by said methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: D610783
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: FashionFitted, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller