Patents Represented by Attorney James E. Walton
  • Patent number: 8347767
    Abstract: A wrench for a valve includes an elongated member having a first end portion and a second end portion. A first leg and a second leg are attached to the first end portion. The first leg and the second leg extend at an angle with respect to each other to form a gap therebetween. The first leg and second leg both having an inner surface for engaging with an outer surface of a bonnet and both legs having a front surface for engaging with a side surface of a rib attached to the outer surface of the bonnet. The wrench also including a handle attached to the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Whitaker, Ruth Clifton
  • Patent number: 8348192
    Abstract: A crash attenuation system for an aircraft, the system having an airbag carried by the aircraft and inflatable generally adjacent an exterior of the aircraft. The airbag has at least one vent for releasing gas from the interior of the airbag. A gas source is in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for inflating the airbag with gas generated provided by the first gas source. A vent valve is provided for controlling a flow of gas through each vent, each vent valve being selectively configurable between an open state, in which gas can pass through the associated vent from the interior of the airbag, any number of intermediate states, in which the vent is partially open, and a closed state, in which gas is retained within the interior of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Ho Tho, Michael R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8341816
    Abstract: A tool for use in disconnecting a quick-connect air-hose coupler has a pair of arms, each arm having a tool end and a handle, the arms being hinged to each other for relative rotation in generally parallel planes, such that selected relative movement of the handles causes opposite relative movement of the tool ends. An incomplete ring is formed on each tool end, the rings being generally coaxial when the rings are adjacent to each other. An insert is configured for insertion into one of the rings, the insert comprising an opening of a selected width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Eric R. Swinford
  • Patent number: 8342786
    Abstract: A container according the present application includes a container auto-lock system. The container auto-lock system is integrated into the outboard apertures of the lower castings of a domestic sized container. The container auto-lock system includes a locking mechanism which is configured to recess when the container is lowered onto a surface lacking an acceptable receiving aperture. The locking mechanism is also configured to automatically lock when placed on top of a domestic sized container. The container auto-lock system is configured to be compatible with international sized container by allowing the inboard apertures on each lower casting to be available for attaching the domestic container on top of an international container with a conventional locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: BNSF Railway Company
    Inventor: Thomas P. Kelly
  • Patent number: 8338329
    Abstract: The present application relates to improved filtration of fluids. Particularly, a surfactant-treated zeolite material may be utilized for removing turbid particles from a volume of fluid, such as water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Zeotech Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Peterson, Ronald L. Coufal
  • Patent number: 8336635
    Abstract: A downhole apparatus and for use in a well bore and associated method are disclosed. The downhole apparatus includes a center mandrel. A slip means is disposed on the mandrel. The slip means can include teeth or the like for grippingly engaging the well bore when in a set position. A retractable packer cup is also disposed on the mandrel. The retractable packer cup is provided for sealing an annulus between the mandrel and the well bore. The retractable packer cup is slidable relative to the mandrel, and can be controlled to slide along the mandrel in order to move the slip to the set position. Also disclosed is a downhole assembly that includes a downhole tool and a setting apparatus. The setting apparatus can be used for lowering the downhole apparatus to a desired setting depth and then releasing the downhole apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventors: Donald Roy Greenlee, Donald Jonathan Greenlee
  • Patent number: 8336815
    Abstract: A constant-velocity drive system for a rotary-wing aircraft rotor comprising a differential torque-splitting mechanism and a gimbal mechanism is disclosed. A rotary-wing aircraft having a rotary-wing aircraft rotor comprising a differential torque-splitting mechanism and a gimbal mechanism is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Rauber, Frank B. Stamps, James Lee Braswell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8337972
    Abstract: A honeycomb core includes a first wall, a second wall, and a conductor disposed between the first wall and the second wall. The first wall and the second wall define a cell through which the conductor extends. A sandwich panel includes an upper skin, a lower skin, and a honeycomb core adhesively bonded to the upper skin and the lower skin. The honeycomb core includes a first wall and a second wall defining a cell. The sandwich panel further includes a conductor disposed between the first wall and the second wall and extending through the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Randy B. Williams
  • Patent number: 8328129
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a pylon has six pylon mounting links for mounting the pylon to an airframe. Each link is considered “near-rigid” and has a spherical-bearing rod-end on both ends such that the link can only transmit axial loads. At least one of the links has a mass carried within the link and selectively moveable by an actuating means along the axis of the link in an oscillatory manner for attenuating vibrations traveling axially through the link. The actuating means may be an electromechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or piezoelectric system. By mounting each link in a selected orientation relative to the other links, the actuating means may be operated in a manner that attenuates axial vibration that would otherwise be transmitted through the link and into the airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 8332082
    Abstract: An aircraft and method to control flat yawing turns of the aircraft while maintaining a constant vector across a ground surface. The aircraft includes a control system in data communication with control actuators, a lateral control architecture, a longitudinal control architecture, and an initialization command logic. The lateral control architecture controls the aircraft in the lateral direction, while the longitudinal control architecture controls the aircraft in the longitudinal direction. The initialization command logic automatically activates the lateral control architecture and the longitudinal control architecture to maintain a constant vector across the ground whenever a directional control input is made at low speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Thomas Christensen, Shyhpyng Jack Shue, Troy Sheldon Caudill
  • Patent number: 8326677
    Abstract: A system for determining an optimal forecasting hierarchy includes setting a plurality of hierarchies by setting each hierarchy in terms of a hierarchy structure. The system also includes generating top level forecasts for a training period and a testing period, each top level forecast being based upon an aggregation of the base forecast levels. The system further includes calculating a forecast error. An optimization routine includes determining an optimal hierarchy and an optimal base level, both being based upon a smallest associated forecast error. The optimization routine also includes calculating a deficiency ratio for each level within each hierarchy by comparing forecast errors associated with the optimal base level and the optimal hierarchy to forecast errors associated with each of the other base levels and hierarchies. The optimal forecasting hierarchy is determined by comparing the deficiency ratio to a significance level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventors: Jianqing Fan, Yikang Li
  • Patent number: 8323034
    Abstract: A system and method for assisting a surgeon during a surgical procedure. The system including a portable device having a display and a database in data communication with the portable device. The database including a program having a first image of the first set of instructions to be conducted by a surgical scrub assisting the surgeon during the first step of the surgical procedure and a second image of the second set of instructions to be conducted by the surgical scrub during the second step of the surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Terry Youngblood
  • Patent number: 8316817
    Abstract: The rotary reciprocating piston engine as a rotor rotatably journaled in a housing and a plurality of pistons movable in radial direction in the rotor between outer and inner dead points. Each piston has a piston rod mounted on a transverse shaft carrying at each end a sliding element which is displaceable in radial grooves formed in the rotor on both sides of the piston. The sliding elements are each provided on the outer side thereof facing away from the piston with a pin received in a housing-fixed star-shaped endless guide groove. The guide groove extends about the axis of rotation of the rotor and controls the movement of the pistons in radial direction between the inner and outer deadpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Dezmotec AG
    Inventors: Hans-Gerd Rücker, Rainer Guder, Ralf Georg Lipiensky, Manfred Thönessen
  • Patent number: 8312818
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vibratory floor consisting of independent vibratory modules that can be pre-fabricated and are strictly controlled before being put into place in structures for storage or transport of bulk products. Each vibratory module consists of a frame (14) in which a support material (12) is arranged, on which a metal sheet (9) is mounted, said metal sheet being attached to a vibratory element (10) and a stiffener (19) and held in place only by a peripheral sealing membrane (11), optionally supported by compression springs (13). The filling material can comprise ribs (30) for deforming the metal sheet in the form of transversal waves (31) under the effect of the weight of the stored product. The vibratory modules constructed in this way are dust-tight, do no transmit vibrations to the surrounding structure, and effectively drain any lumpy or powdery product from silos, ships, railroad cars, or other containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Poncet
  • Patent number: 8313586
    Abstract: A method and a device for the heat treatment of metal materials in an industrial furnace involves a heating chamber having a treatment chamber and a quenching chamber utilizing protective gas and reaction gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ipsen International, GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Edenhofer, Hendrik Grobler, Peter Haase
  • Patent number: 8287237
    Abstract: A pitch control system for blades on a rotor of an aircraft has a gimballing rotor hub (31) and a plurality of step-over arms (61) connected to the hub and capable of pivoting relative to the hub about a pivot axis. Each of a plurality of pitch links (55) connects one of the step-over arms (61) to a flight control system for pivoting the connected step-over arm (61) about the pivot axis and relative to the hub in response to inputs from the control system. Each of a plurality of step-over links (69) connects one of the step-over arms (61) to one of the blades for rotating the associated blade about the pitch axis in response to pivoting of the associated step-over arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Richard E. Rauber, David A. Popelka, Patrick R. Tisdale, Thomas C. Campbell, Keith Stanney, James L. Braswell, Jr., Mark Wasikowski, Tom Donovan, Bryan Baskin, John J. Corrigan, III, Ryan Smith
  • Patent number: 8282817
    Abstract: A system and method includes an aeration subsystem that excites enzymes in the liquid waste passing through the septic system. The aeration subsystem includes a compressor section that compresses the liquid waste and an injector section that injects oxygen into the compressed liquid waste. The system further includes a driver subsystem for driving the compressor section and a control subsystem for activating and deactivating the driver subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Kistner, Carolyn R. Kistner
  • Patent number: D668046
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Alan C. Teichelman
  • Patent number: D668453
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Alan C. Teichelman
  • Patent number: D672224
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventors: Garland R. Brinson, Jason Lamar Potts