Patents by Inventor Craig A. Conrad

Craig A. Conrad 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: 20240100538
    Abstract: A system for recycling pocketed metal coil mattresses includes a primary shredding station that implements a primary shredder element having a housing with opposing shafts mounted to extend along sidewalls of the housing. Each shaft includes a plurality of opposing shredding knives configured to bypass each other for shredding materials in the housing into metal and fabric pieces. The knives each have a thickness in the range of 17-50 mm with the knives of each respective opposing shaft being spaced apart from each other along the respective shaft in the range of 17-50 mm. The primary shredder element is free of stationary elements in the spaces between the shredding knives at the sidewalls. A motion separation station utilizing motion of the fabric pieces and the metal pieces for separating the pieces follows the primary shredder station. An air separation station provides an airflow to separate fabric pieces from the metal pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Craig Conrad, Eric Buck, Nick Ruehlman
  • Publication number: 20230393351
    Abstract: An interconnect system is provided that involves pre-installing a connector housing an optical connector in an adapter and a ferrule of the same optical connector on a cable. The ferrule terminates one or more groups of optical fibers, and a ferrule push component is also pre-installed on the same group(s) of optical fibers. The connector housing is configured to receive and retain the ferrule and ferrule push component without being removed from the adapter to simultaneously form the optical connector and install the optical connector in the adapter. Embodiments such an interconnect system involving high fiber-count cables and related installation methods involving many optical connections are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Darrell Childers, Mitchell Cloud, Craig Conrad, Terry Lee Cooke, Jason Higley, Sherrh Clint Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 11774684
    Abstract: An interconnect system is provided that involves pre-installing a connector housing an optical connector in an adapter and a ferrule of the same optical connector on a cable. The ferrule terminates one or more groups of optical fibers, and a ferrule push component is also pre-installed on the same group(s) of optical fibers. The connector housing is configured to receive and retain the ferrule and ferrule push component without being removed from the adapter to simultaneously form the optical connector and install the optical connector in the adapter. Embodiments such an interconnect system involving high fiber-count cables and related installation methods involving many optical connections are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: CORNING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, US CONEC LTD.
    Inventors: Darrell Childers, Mitchell Cloud, Craig Conrad, Terry Lee Cooke, Jason Higley, Sherrh Clint Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 11555291
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for controlling cooling fans in a self-propelled work vehicle having a main frame supported by wheels or tracks. The cooling fans direct ambient air in accordance with at least one inlet in the main frame, and selectively operate in first and second opposing directions. A perception system is supported by the main frame and configured to provide perception data (e.g., perception data) corresponding to a field of vision which includes the at least one inlet and at least a portion of an associated working area. A controller obtains the perception data and automatically determines characteristics relating to contamination of the cooling system based at least On the perception data. The controller further generates output signals to the cooling fans based on at least one of the determined contaminant characteristics, for example a debris location, type, density, and/or quantity as relating to contamination of the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Kennedy, Craig A. Conrad
  • Publication number: 20230003949
    Abstract: An interconnect system is provided that involves pre-installing a connector housing an optical connector in an adapter and a ferrule of the same optical connector on a cable. The ferrule terminates one or more groups of optical fibers, and a ferrule push component is also pre-installed on the same group(s) of optical fibers. The connector housing is configured to receive and retain the ferrule and ferrule push component without being removed from the adapter to simultaneously form the optical connector and install the optical connector in the adapter. Embodiments such an interconnect system involving high fiber-count cables and related installation methods involving many optical connections are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Darrell Childers, Mitchell Cloud, Craig Conrad, Terry Lee Cooke, Jason Higley, Sherth Clint Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 11474307
    Abstract: An interconnect system is provided that involves pre-installing a connector housing an optical connector in an adapter and a ferrule of the same optical connector on a cable. The ferrule terminates one or more groups of optical fibers, and a ferrule push component is also pre-installed on the same group(s) of optical fibers. The connector housing is configured to receive and retain the ferrule and ferrule push component without being removed from the adapter to simultaneously form the optical connector and install the optical connector in the adapter. Embodiments such an interconnect system involving high fiber-count cables and related installation methods involving many optical connections are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: Corning Research & Development Corporation, US Conec LTD.
    Inventors: Darrell Childers, Mitchell Cloud, Craig Conrad, Terry Lee Cooke, Jason Higley, Sherrh Clint Reinhardt
  • Publication number: 20210325614
    Abstract: An interconnect system is provided that involves pre-installing a connector housing an optical connector in an adapter and a ferrule of the same optical connector on a cable. The ferrule terminates one or more groups of optical fibers, and a ferrule push component is also pre-installed on the same group(s) of optical fibers. The connector housing is configured to receive and retain the ferrule and ferrule push component without being removed from the adapter to simultaneously form the optical connector and install the optical connector in the adapter. Embodiments such an interconnect system involving high fiber-count cables and related installation methods involving many optical connections are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Darrell Childers, Mitchell Cloud, Craig Conrad, Terry Lee Cooke, Jason Higley, Sherrh Clint Reinhardt
  • Publication number: 20210310215
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for controlling cooling fans in a self-propelled work vehicle having a main frame supported by wheels or tracks. The cooling fans direct ambient air in accordance with at least one inlet in the main frame, and selectively operate in first and second opposing directions. A perception system is supported by the main frame and configured to provide perception data (e.g., perception data) corresponding to a field of vision which includes the at least one inlet and at least a portion of an associated working area. A controller obtains the perception data and automatically determines characteristics relating to contamination of the cooling system based at least On the perception data. The controller further generates output signals to the cooling fans based on at least one of the determined contaminant characteristics, for example a debris location, type, density, and/or quantity as relating to contamination of the cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas L. Kennedy, Craig A. Conrad
  • Patent number: 10981763
    Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, a work vehicle may include a chassis, a linkage, a work tool, first and second actuators connected to linkage, one or more sensors, and a controller. The work tool is movably connected to the chassis by the linkage and pivotally connected to the linkage about a base axis. The work tool includes a tip positioned at a forward end of the work tool, with a tip axis parallel to the base axis and passing through the tip. The one or more sensors are configured to provide one or more signals indicative of at least one of a position, velocity, and acceleration of the work tool. The controller is configured to actuate, based on the one or more signals, the first actuator and the second actuator to level the work tool by rotating the work tool about the tip axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: David J. Myers, Doug M. Lehmann, Craig A. Conrad
  • Publication number: 20190135599
    Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, a work vehicle may include a chassis, a linkage, a work tool, first and second actuators connected to linkage, one or more sensors, and a controller. The work tool is movably connected to the chassis by the linkage and pivotally connected to the linkage about a base axis. The work tool includes a tip positioned at a forward end of the work tool, with a tip axis parallel to the base axis and passing through the tip. The one or more sensors are configured to provide one or more signals indicative of at least one of a position, velocity, and acceleration of the work tool. The controller is configured to actuate, based on the one or more signals, the first actuator and the second actuator to level the work tool by rotating the work tool about the tip axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: David J. Myers, Doug M. Lehmann, Craig A. Conrad
  • Publication number: 20120328672
    Abstract: A low heavy metal (i.e. cadmium, mercury) containing calcium aluminum silicate product produced by the method of Air Classification. The method comprises using an air classification system for separating a cadmium containing calcium aluminum silicate feed stock into at least a first fraction and a second fraction. The first separation fraction contains material having an average particle size over 100 um, and the second fraction contains material having an average particle size under 100 um.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Craig Conrad, Donald Jones
  • Publication number: 20070201799
    Abstract: Fiber optic cables are disclosed that have a toning lobe that allows the conductive wire to migrate toward the main cable body while still allowing adequate separation performance of the toning lobe. More specifically, the fiber optic cable includes a main cable body having at least one optical waveguide and a toning lobe. The toning lobe is connected to the main cable body by a web that is frangible. In one embodiment, the toning lobe and the web have a generally tear drop shape. The web includes a neck portion adjacent to the main cable body and a web body, wherein the web body generally increases in thickness towards the toning lobe. The shape of the toning lobe allows a conductive wire of the toning lobe to migrate from a center area of the toning lobe toward the main cable body while still providing adequate separation performance of the toning lobe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Craig Conrad, Eric Stern
  • Publication number: 20070140640
    Abstract: A distribution fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers, a main cable body with some of the plurality of optical fibers being disposed within the main cable body, at least one tether optical fiber, and a cable jacket. The at least one tether optical fiber is one of the plurality of optical fibers that transitions during manufacturing from a first location within the main cable body to a tether access location for a portion of the distribution cable. The cable jacket includes a main cable body jacket and a tether access jacket portion that are connected together by a continuous transition that is applied during cable manufacturing. Thus, the craftsman may conveniently access the at least one tether optical fiber for distribution into the optical network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Kenneth Temple, David Dean, Jody Greenwood, Warren McAlpine, Keith Lail, Craig Conrad
  • Publication number: 20070140639
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a distribution fiber optic cable is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of optical fibers for a cable. Transitioning at least one of the plurality of optical fibers between a first location and a second location, where one of the locations is disposed within the main cable body and the other location is disposed within a tether access location and applying a cable jacket. The cross-sectional area of the cable jacket changes to accommodate the transitioning of the at least one of the plurality of optical fibers. In other embodiments, the cable can be a portion of a cable assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Kenneth Temple, David Dean, Jody Greenwood, Warren McAlpine, Keith Lail, Craig Conrad
  • Publication number: 20060133746
    Abstract: A plurality of fiber optic cables are manufactured as an assembly of fiber optic cables that are later separated into independent fiber optic cables. A method of manufacturing the fiber optic cable assembly is also described. A jacketing cover is extruded over components of the fiber optic cables with a portion connecting the fiber optic cables, and the fiber optic cables can separated from each other by tearing, cutting, or removing a filling element between the fiber optic cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Christopher Quinn, Craig Conrad, David Chiasson, Carl Whisnant
  • Publication number: 20050244114
    Abstract: A buffered optical waveguide includes an optical waveguide having a core, a cladding, and at least one coating and a buffer layer. The buffer layer being disposed around the optical waveguide for protecting the same so that the coupling/adhesion of the buffer layer is reduced. In one embodiment, at least one coating on the optical waveguides has an undulating profile for reducing contact area of the optical waveguide, thereby reducing coupling/adhesion of the buffer layer thereto. In another embodiment, the buffer layer has an internal profile with at least one recessed portion that extends along a longitudinal length of the buffer layer for reducing the contact area of the buffer layer for reducing coupling adhesion thereto. In preferred embodiments, the buffered optical waveguide is about 900 microns or smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: David Chiasson, Craig Conrad, William Hurley
  • Publication number: 20050244113
    Abstract: A buffered optical waveguide includes an optical waveguide, at least one filament, and a buffer layer. The optical waveguide includes a core, a cladding, and at least one coating. The at least one filament is disposed adjacent to the optical waveguide for reducing the contact area of the buffer layer. In other embodiments, the buffer layer being at least partially formed from a foamed polymer, thereby making it useful for cushioning and/or distributing compression forces. In preferred embodiments, the buffered optical waveguide is about 900 microns or smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: David Chiasson, Craig Conrad, William Hurley