Patents by Inventor David M. Kruithoff

David M. Kruithoff 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: 20230381558
    Abstract: An embodiment of a fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from an aerial vehicle is disclosed having a foam and water held in separate containers that when mixed forms a fire retardant in the separate water container, a pump driven by a first electric motor, the pump including an air induction valve positioned at the pump inlet where air and the fire retardant are drawn into the inlet and pressurized simultaneously by the pump, a primer pump driven by a second electric motor to prime the inlet with the fire retardant before starting the pump, an inverter to control startup of the first electric motor, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized water/foam/air fire retardant is dispensed toward a target. Vertical mount plates can attach the apparatus to opposite sides of the helicopter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Patent number: 11717711
    Abstract: An embodiment of a fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from an aerial vehicle is disclosed having a foam and water held in separate containers that when mixed forms a fire retardant in the separate water container, a pump driven by a first electric motor, the pump including an air induction valve positioned at the pump inlet where air and the fire retardant are drawn into the inlet and pressurized simultaneously by the pump, a primer pump driven by a second electric motor to prime the inlet with the fire retardant before starting the pump, an inverter to control startup of the first electric motor, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized water/foam/air fire retardant is dispensed toward a target. Vertical mount plates can attach the apparatus to opposite sides of the helicopter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Simplex Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Publication number: 20230001243
    Abstract: A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Patent number: 11439852
    Abstract: A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Simplex Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Publication number: 20200016442
    Abstract: An embodiment of a fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from an aerial vehicle is disclosed having a foam and water held in separate containers that when mixed forms a fire retardant in the separate water container, a pump driven by a first electric motor, the pump including an air induction valve positioned at the pump inlet where air and the fire retardant are drawn into the inlet and pressurized simultaneously by the pump, a primer pump driven by a second electric motor to prime the inlet with the fire retardant before starting the pump, an inverter to control startup of the first electric motor, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized water/foam/air fire retardant is dispensed toward a target. Vertical mount plates can attach the apparatus to opposite sides of the helicopter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Publication number: 20190358475
    Abstract: A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Patent number: 10406390
    Abstract: An embodiment of a fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from an aerial vehicle is disclosed having a foam and water held in separate containers that when mixed forms a fire retardant in the separate water container, a pump driven by a first electric motor, the pump including an air induction valve positioned at the pump inlet where air and the fire retardant are drawn into the inlet and pressurized simultaneously by the pump, a primer pump driven by a second electric motor to prime the inlet with the fire retardant before starting the pump, an inverter to control startup of the first electric motor, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized water/foam/air fire retardant is dispensed toward a target. Vertical mount plates can attach the apparatus to opposite sides of the helicopter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Simplex Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Patent number: 10369392
    Abstract: A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Simplex Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Publication number: 20180243595
    Abstract: A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Patent number: 9981150
    Abstract: A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING CO.
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Publication number: 20180043194
    Abstract: An embodiment of a fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from an aerial vehicle is disclosed having a foam and water held in separate containers that when mixed forms a fire retardant in the separate water container, a pump driven by a first electric motor, the pump including an air induction valve positioned at the pump inlet where air and the fire retardant are drawn into the inlet and pressurized simultaneously by the pump, a primer pump driven by a second electric motor to prime the inlet with the fire retardant before starting the pump, an inverter to control startup of the first electric motor, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized water/foam/air fire retardant is dispensed toward a target. Vertical mount plates can attach the apparatus to opposite sides of the helicopter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Publication number: 20160236023
    Abstract: A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Patent number: 9333379
    Abstract: A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING CO.
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Patent number: 6976696
    Abstract: An undercarriage for transporting a stretcher includes a support base, which is adapted for supporting a stretcher, a first pair of legs pivotally mounted to the support base, and a second pair of legs pivotally and slidably mounted to the support base. The first pair of legs is independently pivotal about the support base from the second pair of legs. In addition, a journaled member is provided at the distal ends of each leg. The undercarriage also includes a control system that is adapted to selectively pivot the first pair of legs to a stowed position and to selectively pivot the second pair of legs to a stowed position. The control system is further adapted to selectively lengthen or shorten the legs to adjust the height of the support base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: NeoMedTek
    Inventors: Jason M. O'Krangley, David M. Kruithoff
  • Publication number: 20040088792
    Abstract: An undercarriage for transporting a stretcher includes a support base, which is adapted for supporting a stretcher, a first pair of legs pivotally mounted to the support base, and a second pair of legs pivotally and slidably mounted to the support base. The first pair of legs is independently pivotal about the support base from the second pair of legs. In addition, a journaled member is provided at the distal ends of each leg. The undercarriage also includes a control system that is adapted to selectively pivot the first pair of legs to a stowed position and to selectively pivot the second pair of legs to a stowed position. The control system is further adapted to selectively lengthen or shorten the legs to adjust the height of the support base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Jason M. O'Krangley, David M. Kruithoff
  • Patent number: 4753296
    Abstract: The specification discloses an apparatus for harvesting vegetables such as onions, including a topping plenum and a root cutting bed. Onions are removed from the ground by a self-adjusting digger conveyor which conveys them to an elevator conveyor. The elevator conveyor rises steeply over the large diameter, wide tires which convey the apparatus through the field. From thence the onions are conveyed beneath a vacuum plenum through a first air flow zone which is baffled so that the air flow is just sufficient to raise the tops of the onions off the conveyor and then through a second air flow zone where the onions are actually lifted off the conveyor and into registry with a registering and cutting means which cuts the tops off the onions. From thence they drop onto a root cutting bed which removes the roots of the onions and conveys them to a bulk loading conveyor. Dirt and offal drawn into the vacuum fan are conveyed out of the vacuum fan housing by a continuous conveyor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Inventor: David M. Kruithoff