Patents by Inventor Craig Cloud

Craig Cloud 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: 20240125590
    Abstract: An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Gagemaker, LP
    Inventors: Jimmy I. FRANK, John WOLFE, III, Craig CLOUD, Mark BEWLEY, Kris DAWSON
  • Publication number: 20230380443
    Abstract: A sealed pressurized food dispensing system with self-cleaning features that can include a freezing barrel, a faceplate defining a dispense bore and a cleaning bypass passage passing through the faceplate and having an open end, where the dispenser can also include a valve stem that may be moved between a dispensing position and a non-dispensing position where the cleaning bypass passage is positioned such that, when the valve stem is in its non-dispensing position, no fluid path exists between the interior of the freezing barrel and the open end of the cleaning bypass passage within the faceplate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: FBD PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
    Inventors: Craig Cloud, Marshall G. Carter, Cameron C. Crandall, Stephen K. Versteeg
  • Publication number: 20230380442
    Abstract: A refrigerated food processing and dispensing apparatus including a freezing barrel, the freezing barrel having an inlet port; a refrigerated ingredient storage compartment; a pump having an inlet and an outlet; a pressure block positioned within the refrigerated ingredient storage compartment that includes a fluid inlet, a gas inlet, an interior passage in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the gas inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the interior passage, and a first pressure transducer coupled to the pressure block and configured to provide a signal corresponding to the pressure within the interior passage; a gas control valve having an input coupled to a source of pressurized gas and an outlet; and a gas check-valve positioned within the refrigerated ingredient storage compartment having an input fluidly coupled to the outlet of the gas control valve and an output fluidly coupled to the pressure block gas input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: FBD Partnership, L.P.
    Inventors: Marshall G. Carter, Craig Cloud, R Craig Cobabe, Cameron C. Crandall
  • Patent number: 11758920
    Abstract: A sealed pressurized food dispensing system with self-cleaning features that can include a food processing apparatus that includes a cylinder having an inlet for receiving a food ingredient; a faceplate coupled to the cylinder, that defines a dispense bore and a bypass passage having a first open end; a blocking cap coupled to the faceplate to block the dispensing of product from within the cylinder; and a pump having an inlet fluidly coupled to a connection element and an outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet of the cylinder, where connection of the connection element to the source of cleaning fluid will result in the pumping of cleaning fluid into the food dispensing cylinder, though the cylinder into the blocking cap, and through the blocking cap into the bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: FBD Partnership, LP
    Inventors: Jimmy I Frank, Marshall G Carter, R Craig Cobabe, Craig Cloud, Cameron C Crandall
  • Patent number: 11725931
    Abstract: An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Gagemaker, LP
    Inventors: Jimmy I. Frank, John Wolfe, III, Craig Cloud, Mark Bewley, Kris L. Dawson
  • Patent number: 11319799
    Abstract: A stator bore gage comprises a detector assembly comprising a wheel configured to engage an inside surface and to transduce the varying surface diameters into electrical or optical signals representative of the condition of the inside surface as the detector traverses the inside surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Gagemaker, LP
    Inventors: James R. Douglas, Kris L. Dawson, Craig Cloud
  • Publication number: 20210372775
    Abstract: An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Gagemaker, LP
    Inventors: Jimmy I. FRANK, John WOLFE, III, Craig CLOUD, Mark BEWLEY, Kris L. DAWSON
  • Publication number: 20200109620
    Abstract: A stator bore gage comprises a detector assembly comprising a wheel configured to engage an inside surface and to transduce the varying surface diameters into electrical or optical signals representative of the condition of the inside surface as the detector traverses the inside surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: Gagemaker, L.P.
    Inventors: James R. DOUGLAS, Kris L. DAWSON, Craig CLOUD
  • Publication number: 20190339062
    Abstract: An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Gagemaker, LP
    Inventors: Jimmy I. FRANK, John WOLFE, III, Craig CLOUD, Mark BEWLEY, Kris L. DAWSON
  • Patent number: 10436015
    Abstract: A stator bore gage comprises a detector assembly comprising a wheel configured to engage an inside surface and to transduce the varying surface diameters into electrical or optical signals representative of the condition of the inside surface as the detector traverses the inside surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Gagemaker LP
    Inventors: James R. Douglas, Kris L. Dawson, Craig Cloud
  • Patent number: 10254099
    Abstract: An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Gagemaker, LP
    Inventors: Jimmy I. Frank, John R. Wolfe, III, Craig Cloud, Mark Bewley, Kris L. Dawson
  • Publication number: 20170321538
    Abstract: A stator bore gage comprises a detector assembly comprising a wheel configured to engage an inside surface and to transduce the varying surface diameters into electrical or optical signals representative of the condition of the inside surface as the detector traverses the inside surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: GAGEMAKER, LP
    Inventors: James R. DOUGLAS, Kris L. DAWSON, Craig CLOUD
  • Patent number: 9752427
    Abstract: A stator bore gage comprises a detector assembly comprising a wheel configured to engage an inside surface and to transduce the varying surface diameters into electrical or optical signals representative of the condition of the inside surface as the detector traverses the inside surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: GAGEMAKER, LP
    Inventors: James R. Douglas, Kris L. Dawson, Craig Cloud
  • Publication number: 20160115781
    Abstract: A stator bore gage comprises a detector assembly comprising a wheel configured to engage an inside surface and to transduce the varying surface diameters into electrical or optical signals representative of the condition of the inside surface as the detector traverses the inside surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: James R. DOUGLAS, Kris L. DAWSON, Craig CLOUD
  • Patent number: 8875732
    Abstract: A food dispensing machine includes a product chamber and an ingredients source including a gas source connected to the product chamber. A flow control device is configured to control ingredients flow from the ingredients source to the product chamber. A pressure measurement device is configured to output a gas pressure signal, and a controller is configured to receive the gas pressure signal and determine a gas flow control signal based on the gas pressure signal. The controller outputs the gas flow control signal to the flow control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: FBD Partnership
    Inventor: Craig Cloud
  • Patent number: 8701939
    Abstract: A food dispensing machine includes a product chamber with a dispensing valve connected to the product chamber and having an outlet through which a product contained in the product chamber is dispensed. The product chamber has a cleaning solution inlet connectable to a cleaning solution supply source for receiving cleaning solution into the product chamber. The product chamber further has an ingredient inlet alternatively connectable to either an ingredient supply source or the dispensing valve outlet. When the ingredient inlet is connected to the dispensing valve outlet, a re-circulating flow path is created, allowing for complete cleaning and sanitizing of the product flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: FBD Partnership, LP
    Inventors: Jimmy I. Frank, Thomas L. Guy, Kristan L. Dawson, Raymond A. Glatt, Richard E. Frankenberger, Carl R. Martin, Craig Cloud
  • Publication number: 20130045311
    Abstract: A food dispensing machine includes a product chamber and an ingredients source including a gas source connected to the product chamber. A flow control device is configured to control ingredients flow from the ingredients source to the product chamber. A pressure measurement device is configured to output a gas pressure signal, and a controller is configured to receive the gas pressure signal and determine a gas flow control signal based on the gas pressure signal. The controller outputs the gas flow control signal to the flow control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: FBD PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Craig Cloud
  • Publication number: 20120055952
    Abstract: A food dispensing machine includes a product chamber with a dispensing valve connected to the product chamber and having an outlet through which a product contained in the product chamber is dispensed. The product chamber has a cleaning solution inlet connectable to a cleaning solution supply source for receiving cleaning solution into the product chamber. The product chamber further has an ingredient inlet alternatively connectable to either an ingredient supply source or the dispensing valve outlet. When the ingredient inlet is connected to the dispensing valve outlet, a re-circulating flow path is created, allowing for complete cleaning and sanitizing of the product flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: FBD Partnership
    Inventors: Jimmy I. Frank, Thomas L. Guy, Kristan L. Dawson, Raymond A. Glatt, Richard E. Frankenberger, Carl R. Martin, Craig Cloud
  • Patent number: 8079230
    Abstract: A food dispensing machine includes a product chamber with a dispensing valve connected to the product chamber and having an outlet through which a product contained in the product chamber is dispensed. The product chamber has a cleaning solution inlet connectable to a cleaning solution supply source for receiving cleaning solution into the product chamber. The product chamber further has an ingredient inlet alternatively connectable to either an ingredient supply source or the dispensing valve outlet. When the ingredient inlet is connected to the dispensing valve outlet, a re-circulating flow path is created, allowing for complete cleaning and sanitizing of the product flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: FBD Partnership, LP
    Inventors: Jimmy I. Frank, Thomas L. Guy, Kristan L. Dawson, Raymond A. Glatt, Richard E. Frankenberger, Carl R. Martin, Craig Cloud
  • Publication number: 20100293965
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an improved method and system for reducing energy in a beverage machine. The disclosure provides for a reduced operation of a mixer motor in the beverage machine that still allows for testing product conditions and ensuring product quality unique to the needs of beverage dispensing. The product remains cooled or frozen longer, thus reducing compressor operation in a refrigeration system and heat input into the surrounding environment, such as a store, that further reduces the cooling needs of the environment for an overall reduced energy consumption with the beverage machine. The invention departs from the standard of continuous mixing to ensure product quality and reduces the energy input into the mixer motor and energy input into the product chamber, thus reducing the compressor reactivation frequency for significant energy savings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: FBD PARTNERSHIP, LP
    Inventors: Jimmy I. FRANK, Craig CLOUD