Patents by Inventor Timothy A. Shaffer

Timothy A. Shaffer 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: 9282593
    Abstract: An induction heating system comprises inductive rings, which in one example are concentrically wound about a center axis to form a coil array. The inductive rings are situated in the coil array to permit activation of the inductive rings independent of the other inductive rings in the coil array. In one embodiment, the induction heating system includes a control structure with a power supply and switches coupled to each of the inductive rings, wherein activation of the switches permits current from the power supply to flow to the corresponding inductive ring. The induction heating system is amenable to appliances such as ovens and ranges, as well as to cooktops such as free-standing cooktops for countertops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Brosnan, Mariano Filippa, Mark Johnson, Timothy Shaffer, Brian Steurer
  • Publication number: 20120305545
    Abstract: An induction heating system comprises inductive rings, which in one example are concentrically wound about a center axis to form a coil array. The inductive rings are situated in the coil array to permit activation of the inductive rings independent of the other inductive rings in the coil array. In one embodiment, the induction heating system includes a control structure with a power supply and switches coupled to each of the inductive rings, wherein activation of the switches permits current from the power supply to flow to the corresponding inductive ring. The induction heating system is amenable to appliances such as ovens and ranges, as well as to cooktops such as free-standing cooktops for countertops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Brosnan, Mariano Filippa, Mark Johnson, Timothy Shaffer, Brian Steurer
  • Publication number: 20120138590
    Abstract: A lighting system for a cooktop appliance having a plate and a burner assembly positioned beneath the plate. The lighting system includes at least one light source positioned adjacent a light entry portal of the plate. The at least one light source is configured to direct light through the plate via the light entry portal and emit the light from a top surface of the plate adjacent the burner assembly. A controller is communicatively coupled to the burner assembly and the at least one light source. The controller is configured to activate the at least one light source when at least one of the burner assembly is activated and a utensil on the burner assembly is heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel V. BROSNAN, Brian Schork, Brvan Beckley, Mariano Filippa, Ryan Turner, Timothy Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20080110449
    Abstract: A door assembly for a cooking appliance including a cabinet, a lower oven cavity and an upper oven cavity defined within the cabinet is provided. The door assembly includes a lower oven door movably coupled to the cabinet and configured to cover the lower oven cavity. The lower oven door defines a lower oven door air inlet and a lower oven door air outlet. A lower oven door air passage is defined within the lower oven door and provides flow communication between the lower oven door air inlet and the lower oven door air outlet. An upper oven door is movably coupled to the cabinet and configured to cover the upper oven cavity. The upper oven door defines an upper oven door air inlet and an upper oven door air outlet. An upper oven door air passage is defined within the upper oven door and provides flow communication between the upper oven door air inlet and the upper oven door air outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Justin T. Brown, Timothy Shaffer, Christopher O'Malley
  • Publication number: 20070238841
    Abstract: The invention provides for a process to produce polymers utilizing a hydrofluorocarbon diluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Timothy Shaffer, Scott Milner, Michael Matturro, David Chung, Michael McDonald, Robert Webb
  • Publication number: 20070185364
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-line method for generating comonomer, such as 1-hexene or 1-octene, from monomer, such as ethylene. The comonomer generated is directly transported, without isolation or storage, to a polyethylene polymerization reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: John Buchanan, Timothy Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20070185362
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing olefin comonomers from ethylene. The comonomer generated can be used in a subsequent process, such as a polyethylene polymerization reactor. The comonomer generated can be transported, optionally without isolation or storage, to a polyethylene polymerization reactor. One method includes the steps of: feeding ethylene and a catalyst in a solvent/diluent to one or more comonomer synthesis reactors; reacting the ethylene and the catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to produce an effluent comprising a desired comonomer; forming a gas stream comprising unreacted ethylene, and a liquid/bottoms stream comprising the comonomer, optionally by passing the effluent to one or more downstream gas/liquid phase separators; and purifying at least a portion of said liquid/bottoms stream by removing at least one of solid polymer, catalyst, and undesirable olefins therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: James Lattner, John Walzer, Krishnan Sankaranarayanan, John Buchanan, Milind Ajinkya, Stephen Wood, Anastasios Skoulidas, Jay Reimers, Timothy Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20060111522
    Abstract: The invention relates to new processes to produce polymers utilizing bayonette cooled slurry reactor systems and diluents including hydrofluorocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Michael McDonald, Scott Milner, Timothy Shaffer, Robert Webb
  • Publication number: 20060100398
    Abstract: The invention provides for a process to produce polymers utilizing a hydrofluorocarbon diluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Shaffer, Scott Milner, Michael Matturo, David Chung, Michael McDonald, Robert Webb
  • Publication number: 20060100409
    Abstract: The invention relates to new polymerization processes including diluents including hydrofluorocarbons and their use to produce novel polymers with new sequence distributions. In particular, the invention relates to copolymers of an isoolefin, preferably isobutylene, and a multiolefin, preferably a conjugated diene, more preferably isoprene, with new sequence distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Timothy Shaffer, David Chung
  • Publication number: 20060090741
    Abstract: A gas range includes a gas cooktop including a plurality of gas cooktop burners, and an oven coupled to the gas cooktop. The oven includes an oven cavity comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a rear portion coupled to the top and bottom portions, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the first and second side portions coupled to the top, bottom, and rear portions respectively, at least one gas oven burner positioned proximate to the bottom portion within the oven cavity; and a first electrical heating element positioned proximate the top portion within the oven cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Howard Bowles, John Smith, Timothy Shaffer, David Najewicz
  • Publication number: 20060094847
    Abstract: The invention relates to new polymerization processes including diluents including hydrofluorocarbons and their use to produce novel polymers substantially free of long chain branching. In particular, the invention relates to copolymers of an isoolefin, preferably isobutylene, and a multiolefin, preferably a conjugated diene, more preferably isoprene, substantially free of long chain branching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Scott Milner, Timothy Shaffer, David Chung
  • Publication number: 20060089467
    Abstract: The invention provides for polymerization processes to produce polymers utilizing boiling pool reactor systems and diluents including hydrofluorocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael McDonald, Scott Milner, Timothy Shaffer, Robert Webb
  • Publication number: 20060084770
    Abstract: The invention provides for a process to produce polymers utilizing a hydrofluorocarbon diluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: Scott Milner, Michael Matturro, Timothy Shaffer, Robert Webb, David Chung, Michael McDonald
  • Publication number: 20060079655
    Abstract: The invention relates to new polymerization processes including diluents including hydrofluorocarbons and their use to produce novel polymers with new sequence distributions. In particular, the invention relates to copolymers of an isoolefin, preferably isobutylene, and an alkylstyrene, preferably methylstyrene, even more preferably para-methylstyrene, with new sequence distributions. The copolymer may optionally be halogenated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: David Chung, Timothy Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20060000030
    Abstract: A washing machine is provided that includes a tub and a perforated basket rotationally mounted within the tub for relative rotation therewith. A recirculation system is coupled between the tub and the basket and is configured to remove wash liquid from the tub and return wash liquid to the basket. A controller is operatively coupled to the washing machine. The controller is configured to begin recirculation of concentrated wash liquid after an initial fill during a basket slow spin and continue the recirculation of concentrated wash liquid for a predetermined time period prior to a complete fill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventor: Timothy Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20050107536
    Abstract: The invention relates to new polymerization processes including diluents including hydrofluorocarbons and their use to produce novel polymers with new sequence distributions. In particular, the invention relates to copolymers of an isoolefin, preferably isobutylene, and a multiolefin, preferably a conjugated diene, more preferably isoprene, with new sequence distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Timothy Shaffer, David Chung
  • Publication number: 20050101751
    Abstract: The invention relates to new polymerization processes including diluents including hydrofluorocarbons and their use to produce novel halogenated polymers with new sequence distributions. In particular, the invention relates to halogenated copolymers of an isoolefin, preferably isobutylene, and a multiolefin, preferably a conjugated diene, more preferably isoprene, with new sequence distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Timothy Shaffer, David Chung
  • Publication number: 20050060813
    Abstract: A fluid-dispenser device for a washing machine having a wash basket is provided. The basket may define radii extending in a horizontal plane relative to a circumference in correspondence with respect to the wash basket. The device includes at least two outlet ports positioned to direct respective jets of fluid into the wash basket. Each of the jets may have a distinctive exit angle relative to a respective radius in such a horizontal plane and passing through the respective outlet ports. In another aspect thereof, each of the jets may have a generally parallel relationship with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Mahendra Patil, David Najewicz, Timothy Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20050022317
    Abstract: A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a tub, a sensor operatively coupled to the tub and configured to sense a conductivity of a fluid in the tub and a controller operatively coupled to the sensor for controlling an amount of the fluid in the tub based on the conductivity of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventor: Timothy Shaffer