Patents Examined by Mark H Paschall
  • Patent number: 10966289
    Abstract: A heating device for a medical instrument is disclosed. The heating device includes a heating wire. The heating wire is of a metal alloy that has in the temperature range between 0° C. and 100° C. a temperature-sensitive electrical resistance gradient of at least 0.004 ?/(m*K).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: STIHLER ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Schmider, Wolfgang Theilacker-Beck, Matthias Theilacker
  • Patent number: 10959459
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a housing structured to retain an aerosol precursor composition, and a sensor configured to produce a measurement of pressure caused by airflow through at least a portion of the housing, and convert the measurement of pressure to a corresponding electrical signal. The aerosol delivery device includes a heating element configured to convert electricity to heat and thereby vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The aerosol delivery device also includes a control component including a processor configured to receive the corresponding electrical signal and in response connect a power source to a load including the heating element and thereby power the heating element. And the aerosol delivery device includes a voltage regulator coupled to and between the sensor and the power source, and configured to step down voltage from the power source to the sensor and thereby power the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 10964451
    Abstract: A cable hose suitable for welding or cutting systems includes tubing, one or more conductors, and an annular electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield. The EMI shield is disposed radially interiorly of at least a portion of the tubing and radially exteriorly of the one or more conductors. Thus, the EMI shield: (1) prevents EMI emanating from the one or more conductors from exiting the cable hose radially; and (2) conducts current between components of a welding or cutting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: The ESAB Group Inc.
    Inventors: James Tantillo, Michael Nadler, Andrew Raymond
  • Patent number: 10955166
    Abstract: A method of forming a duct section from a web of material includes the steps of forming a series of perforations in a web of material, the series of perforations defining an outline of one of a hole or notch in a finished duct section, forming a male lock bend and a female lock seam in first opposed edges of the web of material, forming flanges in second opposed edges of the web of material, removing the portion of material interior to the series of perforations to form the hole or notch, and bending the web of material to form the finished duct section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Mestek Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Kerska, John R. Welty, Timothy A. Coon
  • Patent number: 10953853
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus for vehicle includes a photographing apparatus, heating means, and a control device. The photographing apparatus is disposed inside a vehicle so as to face a window of the vehicle and is configured to receive photographing light passing through the window. The heating means is disposed inside the vehicle so as to face the window. The heating means generates heat that is given to the window when voltage of an electric power source of the vehicle is applied to the heating means. The control device changes voltage application time that is time period for applying the voltage of the electric power source to the heating means so that a total amount of heat generated by the heating means for a predetermined period of time is coincident with a predetermined amount determined based at least on an outside air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Oikawa
  • Patent number: 10945330
    Abstract: A plasma spraying device includes a torch head which has a plasma channel that extends between a cathode and an anode. The plasma channel is bounded by a plurality of neutrodes which are electrically insulated from each other. A gap extends between the frontmost neutrode and the anode, which gap is divided into at least two sections. There is a radial distance and an axial distance between the two sections. An insulating disk is arranged in each of the two sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: OERLIKON METCO AG
    Inventor: Silvano Keller
  • Patent number: 10935254
    Abstract: A pipe heating device for preventing freezing of pipes includes a controller and a plurality of heating elements. The heating elements are operationally coupled to the controller and each heating element is configured to selectively couple to a respective pipe of a plumbing assembly. The controller is positioned to selectively power the heating element so that the heating element is configured to maintain water that is positioned in the respective pipe in a fluid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventor: Kevin Toomey
  • Patent number: 10935253
    Abstract: A switch box for housing a switch underneath a cooktop is disclosed. The switch is connected to a control member accessible above the cooktop to accept user inputs. The switch box has an air-insulation channel defined between first and second spaced-apart barrier walls. In desirable embodiments the first and second barrier walls are integrally formed with other components of the switch box from plastic as a single-piece part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Agostino Rossato, Claudio Guzzo, Valerio Verdoliva
  • Patent number: 10927821
    Abstract: Examples are generally directed to techniques for controlling a temperature of a blade in a wind turbine system. One example of the present disclosure is a method of controlling a temperature of a blade in a wind turbine system. The method includes setting a target temperature, inputting physical conditions of the blade and ambient conditions about the blade into a processor, outputting a minimum amount of energy to a heating element of the blade required to reach the target temperature based on the physical conditions and ambient conditions, and adjusting the energy provided to the heating element to reach the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Paul Badger, Luke Spandley, Stephen Buggy, Karl Gregory
  • Patent number: 10926353
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for laser piercing of thick plate material that allows for rapid transition to a cutting operation that can reliably produce a piercing hole and complete a cutting operation of the intended shape in a short time, while improving the cutting quality of the cutting after switching from the piercing operation. The cutting nozzle has a centrally located laser. The piercing operation applies a laser beam to the cut work while axially supplied pure oxygen gas is applied towards the cutting work. Additionally, a direction controlled nozzle adjacent the main cutting port provides a discharge of high pressure compressed air non-axially relative to the cutting operation to clear excess molten metal and debris from the kerf thereby increasing the efficiency of the piercing and shortening the cycle time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Prima Power Laserdyne, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Rasmussen, Mohammed Naeem, Jacob Williams, Terrence Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10925315
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system configured to detect an adverse conditions, such as a dry heater or an unauthorized type of heater, is provided, including an electric heater including at least one heating element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate, a power supply, and electric circuitry connected to the electric heater and to the power supply and comprising a memory, the electric circuitry being configured to determine the adverse condition when a ratio between an initial electrical resistance of the electric heater and a change in electrical resistance from the initial resistance is greater than a maximum threshold value stored in the memory or is less than a minimum threshold value stored in the memory, and to limit power supplied to the electric heater, or to provide an indication to a user, if there is the adverse condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Stephane Bilat
  • Patent number: 10920996
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting domestic hot water use by a sanitary fitting during an observation period by analysing data relative to volumes of water passing through a water meter, the method including: receiving a first item of data, noted V?1, representing the maximum volume of fluid measured over a predetermined period, preferably equal to 5 minutes; receiving a second item of data, noted V?2, representing the maximum volume of fluid measured by the meter during another predetermined period, preferably equal to 15 minutes; and detecting that domestic hot water has been used when V?1>15 litres and V?2?20 litres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SUEZ GROUPE
    Inventor: Hugues Haeffner
  • Patent number: 10925120
    Abstract: An adaptable system for defogging a mirror in a steamy bathroom having a tube assembly with a plurality of openings with an impeller and a plurality of heating elements for blowing hot air through the openings onto the fogged mirror. In one example embodiment, the tube assembly has louvers directing the hot air from the openings. The system has a plurality of mounting assemblies configured for all types of mirrors operative for coupling to the tube assembly, such as a portable mounting assembly with a rechargeable battery that selectively attaches on or adjacent to a mirror. The system has an articulated arm mounting assembly in one example embodiment. The system has a mounting assembly fixture in another example embodiment. A kit comprises the tube assembly and at least one mounting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventor: Frank Winters
  • Patent number: 10913429
    Abstract: An apparatus for clearing snow and ice is disclosed. The apparatus is provided at a windowpane or a side mirror or a windshield of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a first layer and a second layer. The first layer or the second layer is removably coupled to the windowpane or the side mirror or the windshield. The apparatus comprises a heating element provided in between the first layer and the second layer. The apparatus further comprises a plug coupled to the heating element via a cable. Further, the plug is coupled to a receptacle provided at a dashboard of the vehicle. The plug inserted in the receptacle to introduce electricity into the heating element to increase the temperature of the heating element to clear the snow or ice formed on the windowpane or the side mirror or the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventor: James Neville
  • Patent number: 10912152
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus for vehicle includes a photographing apparatus receiving photographing light passing through a window, a heater that is a heating wire generating heat when receiving electricity, a heated portion to which the heater is fixed, and a pair of electrical supply lines that is connected to both end portions of the heater respectively and supply the electricity to the heater. The heated portion releases radiation heat to the window when receiving heat from the heater. An amount of heat generated by the both end portions per unit time is smaller than an amount of heat generated by the heater's portion other than the both end portions. The both end portions of the heater are positioned on outer peripheral side with respect to the heated portion when viewed in a thickness direction of the heated portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryuichi Shinkai
  • Patent number: 10907838
    Abstract: A cooker hotplate control system, to heat to and maintain a foodstuff at a preset temperature the system comprising an electric hotplate; a power input to provide electricity to heat the hot plate and a controller to govern said power input; a temperature sensor to determine the temperature of the hotplate; an infrared sensor spatially separated from and to detect infrared radiation emitted by a foodstuff or a vessel containing a foodstuff on the hotplate; a first processor to determine the temperature of a foodstuff or a vessel from the detected infrared radiation and a first data storage means to store said data; a second processor, the second processor calculating the first and second time derivatives of the temperature data; a first fuzzy logic controller receiving as input the first and second time-derivative data from the second processor and producing an output to the controller, said output governing the amount of power supplied to the hotplate, the first fuzzy logic controller being active to bring a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventors: Alessandro Ghelli, Hani Hagras, Daniyal Alghazzawi, Aysenur Bilgin, Ghadah Aldabbagh
  • Patent number: 10908196
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a control system for controlling a heater that includes at least one heating element. The control system includes a power converter operable to supply an adjustable voltage output to the heater, a sensor circuit that measures an electrical characteristic of the heating element of the heater, a reference temperature sensor that measures a reference temperature of a reference at the heater, and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate a primary temperature of a heater element based on the electrical characteristic and determines the voltage output to be applied to the heater based on at least one of the reference temperature and the primary temperature. The controller is configured to operate in at least one of an operation mode and a learn mode, and execute protection protocols when voltage is being supplied to the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Stanton Hopkins Breitlow, James Hentges, William Bohlinger, Matthew Yender, Keith Ness, Kurt Peterson, Eric Meech, Brittany Phillips, Larry Walters, Geoffrey Rozek
  • Patent number: 10905284
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooking food (10) includes a casing (14), a lid (20) and at least a support unit (11). The casing (14) has a compartment in which to insert a container (12) which may be temporally associated with the support unit (11), and the support unit (11) may be configured to temporally support the container (12) with respect to a support plane. The apparatus for cooking food (10) also includes a first heating unit (16a), a second heating unit (16b), a third heating unit (16c) and a weighing unit (18) associated with a control unit (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: DE'LONGHI APPLIANCES S.R.L. CON UNICO SOCIO
    Inventors: Giuseppe De'Longhi, Gianpaolo Trevisan, Renzo Mazzon
  • Patent number: 10908195
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a heater includes a power converter, a sensor circuit, and a controller. The power converter supplies an adjustable power to the heater, and the sensor circuit is configured to measure an electrical characteristic of the heater. The controller is coupled to the power converter to control the power to the heater, and is configured to select a state model control, as an operation state of the heater, from among a plurality of defined state model controls. The controller controls the power supplied to the heater based on the operation state of the heater and on the electrical characteristics of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Stanton Hopkins Breitlow, James Hentges, William Bohlinger, Matthew Yender, Keith Ness, Kurt Peterson, Eric Meech, Brittany Phillips, Larry Walters, Geoffrey Rozek
  • Patent number: 10897807
    Abstract: A cooling component suitable for cooling an electrical component disposed in a power source of a welding or cutting system includes a heat transfer surface, an inlet, an outlet, and a closed flow area. The heat transfer surface transfers heat away from the electrical component. The inlet receives process gas from a gas source and the outlet directs the process gas downstream towards a torch assembly. The closed flow area extends between the inlet and the outlet and is in thermal communication with the heat transfer surface so that the process gas enhances cooling of the electrical component as the process gas travels through the closed flow area, from the inlet to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: The ESAB Group Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Raymond