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).

  • Publication number: 20240381819
    Abstract: An emitter (200B) comprises an inlet section, at least one pressure reducing section, and an outlet section. The inlet section includes inlet features defining inlet apertures in fluid communication with a lateral flow path. The at least one pressure reducing section is in fluid communication with the inlet section, and the at least one pressure reducing section includes resistance features configured and arranged to reduce pressure in irrigation water flowing through the at least one pressure reducing section. The outlet section is in fluid communication with the at least one pressure reducing section and an at least one outlet aperture in the lateral. The outlet section includes at least one suspension feature configured and arranged to keep any debris in suspension in the irrigation water so that it flows (221) out the at least one outlet aperture with the irrigation water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: The Toro Company
    Inventors: William C. Taylor, JR., Brian D. Hu, Daniel Trinidad, David S. Martin, Michael R. Knighton
  • Publication number: 20240373798
    Abstract: An emitter (2200) comprises a floor (2201), a first rail (2204a), and a second rail (2202b) defining at least one pressure reducing section (2208) including first opposing features in a first region to provide a first incremental exponent versus flow rate behavior and second opposing features in a second region to provide a second incremental exponent versus flow rate behavior. The first and second incremental exponent versus flow rate behaviors being different and providing a more consistent overall incremental exponent versus flow rate behavior over a pressure range. The emitter (2200) can be connected to a lateral (2227) having an inner wall (2228), at least a portion of the inner wall (126A, 2228) defining a lateral flow path (2229). The first and second rails (2202A) are operatively connected to the inner wall (2228) and the floor (2201) interconnects distal ends of the first and second rails (2202A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: The Toro Company
    Inventors: William C. Taylor, Jr., Brian D. Hu, Daniel Trinidad, David S. Martin, Michael R. Knighton
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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