Patents by Inventor Steven L. Ross

Steven L. Ross 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: 5449056
    Abstract: An electrified pallet conveyor system for conveying appliances under electrical connection for testing, and which includes an electrical distribution contact shoe busway assembly. The busway consists of an elongated tubular housing having a continuous side access slot and a number of bus bar conductors mounted inside which coextend with the housing for conducting electricity. The electrical contact shoe assemblies are inserted at any desired location along the busway by inserting them into the access slot and twisting them 90.degree.. These contact shoe assemblies are prevented from further rotation by the confines of a closure strip which closes the side access slot of the housing off on opposite sides of the contact shoe assembly. A keying mechanism is also provided to prevent lateral movement of the contact shoe assembly in the bottom of the bus bar housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: U-S Safety Trolley Corp.
    Inventor: Steven L. Ross
  • Patent number: 4895081
    Abstract: A calorimetry system for measurement of the heating value of coal, having a combustor 24 and a mixing unit 30 wherein heat from combustion gases is transferred to air. The system has a gravimetric feeder 64 for providing coal at a measured mass feed rate; the coal including any moisture present therein. The coal is pulverized in an air-driven mill or pulverizer 14 which is fed coal from the feeder and is separated by a cyclone separator 16 into two streams; one carrying coal and air mixed together in a controlled ratio to the combustor. The air which drives the separator, together with fines of the coal and moisture is fed to an afterburner 26 of the combustor so that the thermal dynamics of the entire coal stream is involved in the heating value measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Homer, Shahriar Nowshiravani, Steven L. Ross, Gilbert F. Lutz
  • Patent number: 4893315
    Abstract: A calorimetry system for measurement of the heating value of coal having a combustor 24 and a mixing unit 30 wherein heat from combustion gases is transferred to air. The system has a gravimetric feeder 64 for providing coal at a measured mass feed rate; the coal including any moisture present therein. The coal is pulverized in an air-driven mill or pulverizer 14 which is fed coal from the feeder and is separated by a cyclone separator 16 into two streams; one carrying coal and air mixed together in a controlled ratio to the combustor. The air which drives the separator, together with fines of the coal and moisture is fed to an afterburner 26 of the combustor so that the thermal dynamics of the entire coal stream is involved in the heating value measurement. Instrumentatoin measures the flow rates of cooling air, primary air which carries the coal streams into the combustor and secondary combustion air as well as the mass flow rates of the coal into the combustor as measured with the gravimetric feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Homer, Shahriar Nowshiravani, Steven L. Ross, Gilbert F. Lutz
  • Patent number: 4846081
    Abstract: A calorimetry system for measurement of the heating value of coal having a combustor 24 and a mixing unit 30 wherein heat from combustion gases is transferred to air. The system has a gravimetric feeder 64 for providing coal at a measured mass feed rate; the coal including any moisture present therein. The coal is pulverized in an air-driven mill or pulverizer 14 which is fed coal from the feeder and is separated by a cyclone separator 16 into two streams; one carrying coal and air mixed together in a controlled ratio to the combustor. The air which drives the separator, together with fines of the coal and moisture is fed to an afterburner 26 of the combustor so that the thermal dynamics of the entire coal stream is involved in the heating value measurement. Instrumentation measures the flow rates of cooling air, primary air which carries the coal streams into the combustor and secondary combustion air as well as the mass flow rates of the coal into the combustor as measured with the gravimetric feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Homer, Shahriar Nowshiravani, Steven L. Ross, Gilbert F. Lutz
  • Patent number: 4809190
    Abstract: A calorimetry systems for the continuous measurement of the heating value of coal, which provides heating value data used to control coal-fired furnaces. The system has apparatus for pulverizing the coal, a gravimetric feeder for providing pulverized coal at a measured mass feed rate, an initiating self-sustained combustion of the coal therein without the need for further supporting fuel gases. Instrumentation measures the flow rates of the cooling air, primary and secondary combustion air as well as the mass flow rates of the coal into the combustor. A computer is provided which is responsive to the measuring instruments (thermocouples and pressure gauges) for controlling the feeding of the coal and fuel gases during initiation of combustion and for computing the heating value of the coal. The computer has a memory with storage for specific heat values of the constituents of the products of combustion of various ranks of coal (bituminous, subbituminous, lignite, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Homer, Shahriar Nowshiravani, Steven L. Ross, Gilbert F. Lutz
  • Patent number: 4517751
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for drying moisture-laden feedstock of a wide variety in a continuous process stream which involves passing the feedstock to a fluid bed dryer which receives organic solvent vapors capable of forming an azeotrope with the water of the feedstock stream, passing thereafter into a residence dryer provided with the heat from superheated organic solvent vapors which are passed together with the feedstock stream into a cyclone separator, from which a dried and solvent free feedstock stream is recovered. The solvent vapors are returned to the fluid bed dryer, and means are provided for recovering the solvent from the formed azeotrope and returning the same to the system. Exemplary feedstocks and solvents are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Ross, Otto H. Tachovsky
  • Patent number: 4471274
    Abstract: A passenger vehicle door obstruction sensing control apparatus includes a first time period that begins when a door close command signal is received and the vehicle doors start to close. This first time period permits the door drive motor to reach a steady-state speed of operation. Then a motor speed responsive signal is provided to a speed reduction sensing apparatus for opening the doors for a second time period whenever the motor speed reduces below a predetermined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Steven L. Ross, Lewis C. Marascalco
  • Patent number: 4406571
    Abstract: Apparatus for solidifying nuclear waste for permanent disposal are disclosed. A storage container, in the preferred form of a drum or barrel, is charged with a predetermined amount of liquid polymer resin in an uncatalyzed state. Catalyst-containing frangible ampoules are also positioned in the drum with a rotatable mixer mechanism. At a waste filling station, the mixer is rotated to break the ampoules so as to mix the catalyst and the resin. The catalyzed resin is then mixed with added waste material to completely encapsulate the waste prior to solidification of the resin. Monitoring of the filling and mixing process is provided by continually sensing the torque force being applied to the rotating mixer mechanism. Where the waste is a dust-like, dry particulate material, a dust control mechanism is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1983
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Steven L. Ross