Patents Examined by Mark Paschall
  • Patent number: 9750086
    Abstract: An electrical heating device for a motor vehicle, which includes at least one heating element and which includes at least one printed circuit board, the printed circuit board having at least one contacting area for establishing an electrical connection between the heating element and an energy source, the heating element having a plurality of PTC heating elements, which are electrically conductively connected to each other by a contact element, the contact element of the heating element being disposed at a distance from the contacting area, an electrically conductive connection between the contact element and the contacting area being established with the aid of a plurality of conductor strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Gries
  • Patent number: 9742140
    Abstract: A connector assembly for coupling a plasma arc torch or a welding torch to a power supply having a receiving mechanism. The connector assembly includes a connector body, a plug, and a locking key assembly. The connector body has distal and proximal ends, and the plasma arc torch is affixed to the distal end. The plug extends from the proximal end of the connector body and may include a keyseat. The locking key assembly includes an adapter key and a latch. The adapter key is disposed within the plug keyseat and is configured for receipt within a keyway of the receiving mechanism. The latch retains the locking key assembly to the connector body or connector assembly. The locking key assembly releasably couples the connector assembly to the receiving mechanism and the plasma arc torch to the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: THERMACUT, K.S.
    Inventor: George Arthur Crowe
  • Patent number: 9739489
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a monitoring system including a detecting device configured to detect at least one of smoke and heat, an alarm in operable communication with the detecting device, wherein the alarm is configured to notify a user after the detecting device detects at least one of smoke and heat, a sensing structure configured to determine whether a heating apparatus has a temperature that is above a threshold, and a processor in operable communication with the sensing structure and at least one of the detecting device and the alarm, the processor configured to at least one of turn off at least one of the alarm and the detecting device; and reduce the sensitivity of the detecting device, when the sensing structure determines that the heating apparatus has a temperature that is above a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: STOVMINDER, LLC
    Inventors: John Ronk, Bob Ewell, Douglas Garmany, Charles T. Kelly
  • Patent number: 9743505
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plasma torch, preferably to a plasma cutting torch, in which a plasma gas PG1 and/or PG2 flows through at least one feed through a housing of the plasma torch gas up to a nozzle opening. A hollow space connected to the feed(s) is also present within the housing and a valve which opens and closes an opening is arranged at the opening at said hollow space and a leading off of plasma gas PG1 and/or PG2 out of the feed(s) up to the nozzle opening can be achieved in the open state of this valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: KJELLBERG-STIFTUNG
    Inventors: Frank Laurisch, Timo Grundke, Rene Nogowski, Volker Krink
  • Patent number: 9743504
    Abstract: An electrode holder for an arc plasma torch includes an elongate holder body. The holder body includes a holder end for receiving an electrode and a hollow interior. An internal thread is positioned in the hollow interior for screwing in a rear end of said cooling tube. A cylindrical inner surface adjoins the internal thread for centering the cooling tube relative to the electrode holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Kjellberg Finsterwalde Plasma Und Maschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Laurisch, Volker Krink, Ralf-Peter Reinke
  • Patent number: 9737953
    Abstract: A torch assembly for cutting or spraying applications. The torch assembly includes a torch connector that connects to at least one cable that communicates with a power supply. The torch assembly includes a trigger mounted on the torch assembly to start and stop torch operations. The trigger electrically communicates with the power supply via the at least one cable. The torch assembly also includes a remote switch mounted on the torch assembly to allow an operator to remotely adjust an output of the power supply to a desired output level. The remote switch is electrically coupled to the power supply via the at least one cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventor: Bruce Chantry
  • Patent number: 9731376
    Abstract: A fully automated plasma sheet metal cutter that can be integrated into a HVAC coil-line and which increases the precision of cutting, decreases the time it takes to cut a particular component sheet metal part, and offers flexibility in cutting different sized and shaped holes or openings. Further, since the system is fully automated, it eliminates the error or cost attributed to a portion of the cutting process that heretofore has been associated with a manual laborer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: PLASMA AUTOMATION INC.
    Inventor: Matthew Walsh
  • Patent number: 9735613
    Abstract: A system and methods for controlling the supply and distribution of backup electrical power determine when backup power is needed and allocates available backup power among connected devices in a power outage. Batteries may be used as an energy storage subsystem, and may backup a home heating plant and other devices based on a dual set of user-established priorities that may change during power blackouts and brownouts as the amount of stored energy decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: HEAT ASSURED SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick L. Orthlieb, Alan M. Letzt, Erik A. Cheever, Tushar A. Parlikar, Ari Houser
  • Patent number: 9736918
    Abstract: A swirl ring component of a contact start plasma arc torch is provided. The swirl ring component includes a hollow body formed of a front portion and a rear portion along a longitudinal axis and defining an exterior surface and an interior surface. The swirl ring component also includes one or more gas passageways extending from the exterior surface to the interior surface in the front portion of the hollow body and a resilient element disposed relative to the interior surface in the rear portion of the hollow body and configured to pass at least a pilot arc current to an electrode body. The swirl ring component further includes a shoulder portion configured to retain the resilient element in the hollow body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Mather, Stephen T. Eickhoff, Jesse A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9736888
    Abstract: Described herein is a composite panel that includes a first layer made from an electrically non-conductive material. The composite panel also includes a resistance heater printed onto the first layer. Further, the composite panel includes a second layer adjacent the resistance heater, the resistance heater being positioned between the first layer and the second layer. The second layer is made from an electrically non-conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Duce, Joseph A. Marshall, IV, Ashley House, Jason Turner
  • Patent number: 9736916
    Abstract: Plasma electrode (1) for a plasma arc torch consisting of an electrode body, at least one electrode core (4) disposed on the electrode tip, wherein the plasma electrode (1) is constructed in at least two parts and consists of the electrode tip (2) and an electrode part (3), and out of the electrode tip (2) and a electrode part (3) consists, and that the electrode tip (2) is held replaceably on the electrode part (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventor: Manfred Hollberg
  • Patent number: 9724779
    Abstract: A tool (10) for processing a workpiece in a processing machine has a connecting portion (11) which is at the machine side during operation and is preferably standardized, for connecting the tool with a numerically controlled machine tool (30), a plasma duct (44) for conducting a generated plasma, and an outlet portion (13) which is at the workpiece side during operation and is disposed at the end of the duct (44), and which comprises one or a plurality of outlets (22) for supplying the plasma to a workpiece surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SAUER ULTRASONIC GMBH
    Inventor: Florian Feucht
  • Patent number: 9730306
    Abstract: Nozzle for thermal spray gun, thermal spray gun and method of optimizing nozzle of thermal spray gun. The nozzle includes a central bore comprising a conical bore and a cylindrical bore. The conical bore is delimited by a conical wall surface in a conical bore section, the cylindrical bore is delimited by a cylindrical wall surface in a cylindrical bore section, and the conical bore section and the cylindrical bore section are structured so that heat is removed more rapidly from the conical wall than from the cylindrical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: OERLIKON METCO (US) INC.
    Inventor: Ronald J. Molz
  • Patent number: 9713345
    Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling an electrical heating element, including maintaining a temperature of the heating element at a target temperature by supplying pulses of electrical current to the heating element; monitoring a duty cycle of the pulses of electrical current; and determining if the duty cycle differs from an expected duty cycle or range of duty cycles, and if so, reducing the target temperature, or stopping the supply of current to the heating element or limiting the duty cycle of the pulses of electrical current supplied to the heating element. As the temperature is maintained at a known target temperature, any variation in the duty cycle or range of duty cycles expected to maintain the target temperature is indicative of abnormal conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Robin Farine, Pascal Talon
  • Patent number: 9717139
    Abstract: In one or more implementations, an inductively coupled plasma torch cooling device that employs example techniques in accordance with the present disclosure includes an annular chamber configured to allow a flow of coolant to pass through the annular chamber, an inlet port, and an outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Elemental Scientific, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Wiederin
  • Patent number: 9713200
    Abstract: A system for measuring temperatures of and controlling a multi-zone heating plate in a substrate support assembly used to support a semiconductor substrate in a semiconductor processing includes a current measurement device and switching arrangements. A first switching arrangement connects power return lines selectively to an electrical ground, a voltage supply or an electrically isolated terminal, independent of the other power return lines. A second switching arrangement connects power supply lines selectively to the electrical ground, a power supply, the current measurement device or an electrically isolated terminal, independent of the other power supply lines. The system can be used to maintain a desired temperature profile of the heater plate by taking current readings of reverse saturation currents of diodes serially connected to planar heating zones, calculating temperatures of the heating zones and powering each heater zone to achieve the desired temperature profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Pease
  • Patent number: 9713243
    Abstract: A toroidal plasma is generated without voltage input. It can be produced using a pressurized water jet directed at a non-conductive, dielectric plate. Systems and methods employing the setup are described in which energy is generated and optionally harvested in addition to corona light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Morteza Gharib, Francisco Pereira, Sean A. Mendoza
  • Patent number: 9703300
    Abstract: A temperature regulation system configured to regulate a temperature of the device may include first and second temperature-dependent current sources that are configured to generate first and second currents, respectively. The system may also include amplifiers configured to apply respective first and second amplification factors to the respective first and second currents to generate respective first and second intermediate currents. The system may also include a heater configured to generate heat based on the first and second intermediate currents and positioned such that the generated heat affects the device. Additionally, the system may include a controller configured to adjust the first and second amplification factors such that changes in the first and second currents, resulting from changes in temperature of the first and second current sources, result in changes to the heat generated by the heater to maintain an approximately equal temperature of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Asako Toda
  • Patent number: 9693394
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical heating device for heating the interior of a vehicle, comprising a plurality of PTC heating rods each comprising ceramic PTC heating resistors, heat sinks for transferring heat from the PTC heating rods to an air flow, and a holder holding the PTC heating rods. The PTC heating rods are connected in series to an NTC heating rod comprising at least one NTC resistor, wherein the NTC heating rod is held by the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH
    Inventors: Stephen Sweeney, Anthony Maher, Katherine O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9691593
    Abstract: To provide a plasma processing device and a plasma processing method capable of performing high-speed processing. In an inductively-coupled plasma torch unit, a coil, a lid and a first ceramic block are bonded together, and a long chamber has an annular shape. Plasma generated in the chamber is ejected from an opening in the chamber toward a substrate. The substrate is processed by moving the long chamber and the substrate mounting table relatively in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the opening. The first ceramic block is cooled efficiently by allowing a refrigerant to flow in a refrigerant flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Okumura