Patents by Inventor Brian D. Hu

Brian D. Hu 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).

  • ACTIVE MATERIAL ENABLED PRESSURE RELEASE VALVES AND METHODS OF USE
    Publication number: 20140273790
    Abstract: A valve includes a housing and vane that is movable to a predetermined position. An actuator mechanically couples to the movable vane. The actuator is a wire device fabricated from shape memory alloy which, when activated, urges the movable vane toward the predetermined position. A power supply is configured to activate the actuator in response to an activation command and an indication that the movable vane is not in the predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: DYNALLOY, INC, GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: PAUL W. ALEXANDER, XIUJIE GAO, ALAN L. BROWNE, MARK A. VOSS, DEREK L. PATTERSON, JOHN N. OWENS, JAMES HOLBROOK BROWN, BRIAN D. HU
  • Active material enabled pressure release valves and methods of use
    Patent number: 8708787
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve includes a housing and vane that is movable to one of an open position and a closed position. A linear actuator mechanically couples between the movable vane and the housing. The linear actuator is a wire device fabricated from a shape memory alloy. An actuable latching system is configured to retain the movable vane in one of the open position and the closed position for an indeterminate time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Xiujie Gao, Alan L. Browne, Mark A. Voss, Derek L. Patterson, John N. Owens, James Holbrook Brown, Brian D. Hu
  • ACTIVE MATERIAL ENABLED PRESSURE RELEASE VALVES AND METHODS OF USE
    Publication number: 20100112924
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve includes a housing and vane that is movable to one of an open position and a closed position. A linear actuator mechanically couples between the movable vane and the housing. The linear actuator is a wire device fabricated from a shape memory alloy. An actuable latching system is configured to retain the movable vane in one of the open position and the closed position for an indeterminate time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., DYNALLOY, INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Xiujie Gao, Alan L. Browne, Mark A. Voss, Derek L. Patterson, John N. Owens, James Holbrook Brown, Brian D. Hu