Patents by Inventor Christopher M. Huff

Christopher M. Huff 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).

  • Patent number: 10365315
    Abstract: A method for locating an anomaly in a distribution circuit including utility power lines includes coupling a radio frequency energy source to the utility power lines, transmitting chirped radio frequency signals into the utility power lines, receiving and digitizing/analyzing signals reflected from the chirped signals by impedance mismatches caused by components and features of the distribution circuit, and generating from the digitized signals of multiple sets of the chirped radio frequency signals a reference data set identifying at least the locations of at least some of the components and features of the distribution circuit. Later sets of the chirped radio frequency signals are transmitted into the utility power lines and signals reflected from the sets of chirped signals are received and digitized and are compared with the reference data set to determine if there are anomalies on the distribution circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Southern California Edison
    Inventors: Sean Mitchem, Jake Casey-Snyder, Ben Abbott, Yaxi Liu, Christopher M. Huff, Bryan Pham
  • Publication number: 20180328976
    Abstract: A method for locating an anomaly in a distribution circuit including utility power lines includes coupling a radio frequency energy source to the utility power lines, transmitting chirped radio frequency signals into the utility power lines, receiving and digitizing/analyzing signals reflected from the chirped signals by impedance mismatches caused by components and features of the distribution circuit, and generating from the digitized signals of multiple sets of the chirped radio frequency signals a reference data set identifying at least the locations of at least some of the components and features of the distribution circuit. Later sets of the chirped radio frequency signals are transmitted into the utility power lines and signals reflected from the sets of chirped signals are received and digitized and are compared with the reference data set to determine if there are anomalies on the distribution circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Southern California Edison
    Inventors: Sean Mitchem, Jake Casey-Snyder, Ben Abbott, Yaxi Liu, Christopher M. Huff
  • Patent number: 9757668
    Abstract: A filter turning mechanism is attached to an engine in proximity to a filter (such as an oil filter), and may be used to install or remove a filter by turning the filter. The filter turning mechanism contacts a filter, and rotates the filter when the filter turning mechanism is rotated with a tool. One implementation of the filter turning mechanism includes an inner drive gear and a filter drive mechanism. The inner drive gear normally spins freely within the filter drive mechanism, but when pushed into the filter drive mechanism with a suitable tool such as a ratchet extension, the inner drive gear engages the filter drive mechanism, thereby causing rotation of the inner drive gear to rotate the filter drive mechanism as well, which in turn rotates the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: HB Spider LLC
    Inventor: Christopher M. Huff
  • Patent number: 9475394
    Abstract: An air engine system includes an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft of an air engine to control the speed of the air engine. An accelerator controls the speed of the electric motor, which in turn controls the speed of the air engine. The air engine uses compressed air from a compressed air source provided by an air compressor. The air engine may be used on a vehicle, providing a clean environmentally-friendly means of locomotion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: HB Spider LLC
    Inventor: Christopher M. Huff
  • Patent number: 8968564
    Abstract: A filter turning mechanism is attached to an engine in proximity to a filter (such as an oil filter), and may be used to install or remove a filter by turning the filter. The filter turning mechanism contacts a filter, and rotates the filter when the filter turning mechanism is rotated with a tool. One implementation of the filter turning mechanism includes an inner drive gear and a filter drive mechanism. The inner drive gear normally spins freely within the filter drive mechanism, but when pushed into the filter drive mechanism with a suitable tool such as a ratchet extension, the inner drive gear engages the filter drive mechanism, thereby causing rotation of the inner drive gear to rotate the filter drive mechanism as well, which in turn rotates the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: HB Spider, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher M. Huff
  • Publication number: 20150027741
    Abstract: A filter turning mechanism is attached to an engine in proximity to a filter (such as an oil filter), and may be used to install or remove a filter by turning the filter. The filter turning mechanism contacts a filter, and rotates the filter when the filter turning mechanism is rotated with a tool. One implementation of the filter turning mechanism includes an inner drive gear and a filter drive mechanism. The inner drive gear normally spins freely within the filter drive mechanism, but when pushed into the filter drive mechanism with a suitable tool such as a ratchet extension, the inner drive gear engages the filter drive mechanism, thereby causing rotation of the inner drive gear to rotate the filter drive mechanism as well, which in turn rotates the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Christopher M. Huff
  • Patent number: 8850807
    Abstract: An air engine system includes a motor coupled to the drive shaft of an air engine to control the speed of the air engine. The air engine uses compressed air from a compressed air source provided by an air compressor. The air engine may be used on a vehicle, providing a clean environmentally-friendly means of locomotion. Conventional internal combustion engines may be retrofitted to operate on compressed air. Many of the parts on an internal combustion engine are not needed after retrofitting to be an air engine, including the heads. The heads are replaced by head plates that are coupled to solenoids that provide both intake and exhaust functions to the cylinders, thereby replacing the valves in the heads. A kit provides parts and instructions for retrofitting an existing internal combustion engine to run on compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: HB Spider LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Huff, Danny Lee Block
  • Publication number: 20140130485
    Abstract: An air engine system includes an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft of an air engine to control the speed of the air engine. An accelerator controls the speed of the electric motor, which in turn controls the speed of the air engine. The air engine uses compressed air from a compressed air source provided by an air compressor. The air engine may be used on a vehicle, providing a clean environmentally-friendly means of locomotion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: HB Spider LLC
    Inventor: Christopher M. Huff
  • Patent number: 8667787
    Abstract: An air engine system includes a motor coupled to the drive shaft of an air engine to control the speed of the air engine. The air engine uses compressed air from a compressed air source provided by an air compressor. The air engine may be used on a vehicle, providing a clean environmentally-friendly means of locomotion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: HB Spider LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Huff, Danny Lee Block
  • Publication number: 20130134085
    Abstract: A filter turning mechanism is attached to an engine in proximity to a filter (such as an oil filter), and may be used to install or remove a filter by turning the filter. The filter turning mechanism contacts a filter, and rotates the filter when the filter turning mechanism is rotated with a tool. One implementation of the filter turning mechanism includes an inner drive gear and a filter drive mechanism. The inner drive gear normally spins freely within the filter drive mechanism, but when pushed into the filter drive mechanism with a suitable tool such as a ratchet extension, the inner drive gear engages the filter drive mechanism, thereby causing rotation of the inner drive gear to rotate the filter drive mechanism as well, which in turn rotates the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: HB SPIDER, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher M. Huff
  • Publication number: 20110308241
    Abstract: An air engine system includes a motor coupled to the drive shaft of an air engine to control the speed of the air engine. The air engine uses compressed air from a compressed air source provided by an air compressor. The air engine may be used on a vehicle, providing a clean environmentally-friendly means of locomotion. Conventional internal combustion engines may be retrofitted to operate on compressed air. Many of the parts on an internal combustion engine are not needed after retrofitting to be an air engine, including the heads. The heads are replaced by head plates that are coupled to solenoids that provide both intake and exhaust functions to the cylinders, thereby replacing the valves in the heads. A kit provides parts and instructions for retrofitting an existing internal combustion engine to run on compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: HB SPIDER, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Huff, Danny Lee Block
  • Publication number: 20110308382
    Abstract: An air engine system includes a motor coupled to the drive shaft of an air engine to control the speed of the air engine. The air engine uses compressed air from a compressed air source provided by an air compressor. The air engine may be used on a vehicle, providing a clean environmentally-friendly means of locomotion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher M. Huff, Danny Lee Block
  • Patent number: D641599
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: H B Mechanics LLC
    Inventor: Christopher M. Huff