Patents by Inventor David R. Smith

David R. Smith 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: 20140376156
    Abstract: An apparatus having reduced phononic coupling between a graphene monolayer and a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes an aerogel substrate and a monolayer of graphene coupled to the aerogel substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, Roderick A. Hyde, Jeffrey A. Bowers, Nathan Kundtz, Nathan P. Myhrvold, David R. Smith, Lowell L. Wood,, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8881764
    Abstract: A fuel system for an aircraft includes a fuel collector downstream of a boost pump and upstream of an engine fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Smith, Joe James Burg, Robert R. Rogstad
  • Patent number: 8870210
    Abstract: A steering system for a towed farm implement or wagon, such as a header transport, is provided that allows the tongue of the header transport to pivot approximately 90 degrees to the right or the left (i.e., 180 degrees in total) and translates the movement of the tongue to all of the wheels of the header transport. Front steering linkages are coupled to the tongue, and are configured to oscillate front wheels in response to rotation of the tongue. Rear steering linkages are coupled to the front steering linkages by front-to-rear linkages, and the rear steering linkages are configured to oscillate rear wheels in response to rotation of the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8848295
    Abstract: Gradient index lenses with no aberrations and related methods for making such lenses are described. In one aspect, a gradient index lens can be a substantially spherically-shaped lens that has at least one side that is flattened such that a locus of focal points resides on a plane. A method for making a gradient index lens can include forming material layers, each of the material layers defining an effective refractive index, and laminating the material layers together to form a substantially spherically-shaped lens having at least one side that is flattened to a substantially planar surface. The material layers can have a gradient refractive index distribution such that a locus of focal points resides on the substantially planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: David R. Smith, Nathan B. Kundtz
  • Patent number: 8844627
    Abstract: An intelligent well system and method has a sand face completion and a monitoring system to monitor application of a well operation. Various equipment and services may be used. In another aspect, the invention provides a monitoring system for determining placement of a well treatment. Yet another aspect of the invention is an instrumented sand screen. Another aspect is a connector for routing control lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney J. Wetzel, Peter V. Howard, Craig D. Johnson, Sudhir Pai, David R. Smith, Jake A. Danos, Patrick W. Bixenman
  • Publication number: 20140262383
    Abstract: A tilling implement for use with a farm vehicle includes a frame, a tilling element attached to the frame, a bearing assembly configured to allow the tilling element to rotate relative to the frame. The bearing assembly can include a first race, a second race spaced apart from the first race to define a gap therebetween, a bearing rotatably disposed within the gap to allow relative movement between the first race and the second race, a seal including a flexible protrusion having a distal end that presses against the first race to seal off the gap, and a stop positioned adjacent to the flexible protrusion configured to prevent the distal end of the protrusion from bending towards the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: David R. Smith, Thomas Steffan, Shawn Gerdeman
  • Patent number: 8837031
    Abstract: The design method for complex electromagnetic materials is expanded from form-invariant coordinate transformations of Maxwell's equations to finite embedded coordinate transformations. Embedded transformations allow the transfer of electromagnetic field manipulations from the transformation-optical medium to another medium, thereby allowing the design of structures that are not exclusively invisible. A topological criterion for the reflectionless design of complex media is also disclosed and is illustrated in conjunction with the topological criterion to design a parallel beam shifter and a beam splitter with unconventional electromagnetic behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Marco Rahm, David R. Smith, David A. Schurig
  • Patent number: 8837110
    Abstract: An apparatus having reduced phononic coupling between a graphene monolayer and a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes an aerogel substrate and a monolayer of graphene coupled to the aerogel substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, Nathan Kundtz, Nathan P. Myhrvold, David R. Smith, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Roderick A. Hyde
  • Patent number: 8837058
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide emitting and negatively-refractive focusing of electromagnetic energy. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing from an interior field region with an axial magnification substantially less than one. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y. Jung, John Brian Pendry, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8830653
    Abstract: An apparatus having reduced phononic coupling between a graphene monolayer and a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes an aerogel substrate and a monolayer of graphene coupled to the aerogel substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, Roderick A. Hyde, Nathan Kundtz, Nathan P. Myhrvold, David R. Smith, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8830556
    Abstract: One exemplary metamaterial is formed from a plurality of individual unit cells, at least a portion of which have a different permeability than others. The plurality of individual unit cells are arranged to provide a metamaterial having a gradient index along at least one axis. Such metamaterials can be used to form lenses, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: David R. Smith, David Schurig, Anthony F. Starr, Jack J. Mock
  • Patent number: 8817380
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide emitting and negatively-refractive focusing of electromagnetic energy. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing from an interior field region with an axial magnification substantially greaters than one. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y. Jung, John Brian Pendry, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8807223
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus to construct subsea wells with redundant parallel fluid flow control systems to allow new methods to stop subsea blow outs. More specifically, this invention provides methods and apparatus to construct subsea wells with a plurality of redundant parallel paths allowing for the first time drill pipe and other intervention conduits, wire line, and fluids to be deployed below a damaged drilling riser and or a damaged blow out preventer through a separate blow out preventer and riser system presented in this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: David R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140227069
    Abstract: A system for transferring material from a storage container to a farm implement includes a transfer conveyor transportable on a farm implement including a trailer, a bin mounted on the trailer, a cart conveyor, and a dock mounted on the trailer forwardly or rearwardly of the bin to stow the transfer conveyor. The transfer conveyor includes a wheeled receptacle defining a receiving area with an open top and first and second conveyor portions. The first conveyor portion is disposed within the receiving area and the second conveyor portion pivotable between a storage position in which the second conveyor portion is positioned across the top of the receptacle and an operating position in which the second conveyor portion extends outwardly from the receptacle. The dock is mounted to pivot from a horizontal stowed position disposed across the trailer to a tilted deployed position extending from the trailer to the ground to allow the transfer conveyor to be loaded onto and unloaded from the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. HILVERS, Shawn GERDEMAN, David R. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20140209683
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying an object having a pattern of plasmon resonant particles (PREs) distributed in or on the object are disclosed. In the method, a field containing the pattern is illuminated, and one or more spectral emission characteristics of the light-scattering particles in the field are detected. From this data, an image of positions and spectral characteristic values in the field is constructed, allowing PREs with a selected spectral signature to be discriminated from other light-scattering entities, to provide information about the field. The image may be compared to a database of reference images to identify or validate the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Sheldon Schultz, David A. Schultz, David R. Smith, Jack J. Mock, Thomas J. Silva
  • Patent number: 8789591
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods and apparatus to release energy into wells using combustion of monopropellants. More specifically, this invention is directed to industrial methods to enhance the extraction of well fluids from wells by using the in-situ energy released from this inventions apparatus, methods, catalyst, and fluids blends for subterranean catalytic combustion of monopropellants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: David R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140191018
    Abstract: Hot-rolled high-strength steel elongated structural members and method of making same are disclosed by hot-rolling high-strength steel having a specific chemical composition to provide structural units. The units are then welded together to provide structural members of desired geometrical configuration including a thin web with opposed thicker flanges extending therefrom to increase the load bearing capacity of the members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Consolidated Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh M. Gallagher, JR., Joseph Bryan Loosle, Jack L. Williams, William W. Wood, Brenda D. Daniels, Cory J. Anthony, David R. Smith
  • Patent number: 8773777
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide focusing, focus-adjusting, and sensing. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes providing an extended depth of focus greater than a nominal depth of focus. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes focus-adjusting with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y. Jung, John Brian Pendry, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8773776
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide emitting and negatively-refractive focusing of electromagnetic energy. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing from an interior field region with an axial magnification substantially greater than one. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y. Jung, John Brian Pendry, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8773775
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide emitting and negatively-refractive focusing of electromagnetic energy. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing from an interior field region with an axial magnification substantially less than one. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K.Y. Jung, John Brian Pendry, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.