Patents by Inventor Dennis M. Smith

Dennis M. 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: 20240115449
    Abstract: An embodiment of a storage device for medical products includes a cabinet defining an enclosure having a plurality of compartments. In addition, the storage device includes a plurality of storage containers, each storage container configured to be inserted into a corresponding one of the plurality of compartments. Further, the storage device includes an actuation assembly including a plurality of arms that are configured to engage the plurality of storage containers so as to secure the plurality of storage containers in the plurality of compartments. Still further, the storage device includes a release mechanism that is configured to simultaneously actuate each of the plurality of arms to release the plurality of storage containers from the plurality of compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas J. Larkner, David A. Ferrer, Jesse M. Smith, Dennis H. Smith, Adam A. Cloud, Mark D. Lockwood, Mark G. Loeffelholz, James R. Edwards
  • Patent number: 9896757
    Abstract: A strip casting apparatus having a roll shell with a nitrided inner diameter surface mounted on a steel core and method of manufacturing the same. The inner diameter of a steel roll shell may be nitrided by ion or plasma nitriding. The nitriding process can form tight, crack free nitride layer that provides a corrosion resistant barrier and exhibits a surface hardness that is greater than the surface hardness of the steel core and that improves galling resistance while maintaining efficient heat transfer of the roll shell. After nitriding, the roll shell can be shrink fit over a steel core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SHULTZ STEEL COMPANY
    Inventors: James N. Cordea, Dennis M. Smith, Anthony Vinter
  • Publication number: 20170002453
    Abstract: A strip casting apparatus having a roll shell with a nitrided inner diameter surface mounted on a steel core and method of manufacturing the same. The inner diameter of a steel roll shell may be nitrided by ion or plasma nitriding. The nitriding process can form tight, crack free nitride layer that provides a corrosion resistant barrier and exhibits a surface hardness that is greater than the surface hardness of the steel core and that improves galling resistance while maintaining efficient heat transfer of the roll shell. After nitriding, the roll shell can be shrink fit over a steel core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: James N. CORDEA, Dennis M. SMITH, Anthony VINTER
  • Patent number: 7708923
    Abstract: A coupling and a process of molding the coupling is disclosed for interconnecting a primary and a secondary tube. The process comprises the steps of inserting a primary core pin into the primary tube. A secondary core pin is inserted into the second tube to abut with the primary core pin. The assembled tubes and core pins are placed within a mold cavity and a thermoplastic material is injected for forming the coupling. The coupling and the interconnected tubes are removed from the mold cavity. The secondary core pin is disengaged from the secondary core pin to be removed by passing the secondary core pin through the secondary tube. The primary core pin is removed by passing the secondary core pin through the primary tube. The coupling forms a smooth interconnection of the inner cross-sections of the first and second tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Albert H. Helicke, Dennis M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6363999
    Abstract: A variable tip width adjustment system for use in continuous casting of a molten metal includes a feed tip nozzle downstream from a distribution box, the nozzle including a pair of feed tip nozzle members spaced apart to define a feed tip opening at a downstream edge of the feed tip nozzle members and a pair of end dams located on a drive side and an operator side of the roll casters, the end dams slidably engaged inside the tip nozzle, each dam being axially moveable in two directions inside the tip nozzle. The end dams are preferably actuated using a programmable controller and a stepper motor that is responsive to the signals of the programmable controller. The stepper motor is preferably connected to the end dam via flex connector and a connecting guide rod directed through a guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Fata Hunter, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6220336
    Abstract: An improved molten metal feed system is provided for high speed, continuous casting of metals and alloys. The feed system includes a distributor box having an insulative lining which supports an internal flow distributor board. The flow distributor board includes a plurality of openings of various sizes and shapes spaced apart along the width of the board. The presence of the flow distributor board effectively separates the box into lower and upper sections and restricts the flow of liquid metal through the board and thus, forces entering liquid metal to fill the entire width of the distributor box below the flow distributor board. In addition, the liquid metal is stabilized across the width of the distributor box resulting in a balanced temperature gradient. Once the lower section of the distributor box is filled, the metal flows through the openings in the board into the upper section of the distributor box and into the feed tip nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Fata Hunter, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6095383
    Abstract: An improved molten metal feed system is provided for high speed, continuous casting of metals and alloys. The feed system includes a distributor box having an insulative lining which supports an internal flow distributor board. The flow distributor board includes a plurality of openings of various sizes and shapes spaced apart along the width of the board. The presence of the flow distributor board effectively separates the box into lower and upper sections and restricts the flow of liquid metal through the board and thus, forces entering liquid metal to fill the entire width of the distributor box below the flow distributor board. In addition, the liquid metal is stabilized across the width of the distributor box resulting in a balanced temperature gradient. Once the lower section of the distributor box is filled, the metal flows through the openings in the board into the upper section of the distributor box and into the feed tip nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Fata Hunter, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis M. Smith
  • Patent number: 5660757
    Abstract: A molten metal feed tip nozzle for a continuous roll caster is made by combining a pair of elongated feed tip nozzle members with a non-aggressive buffer pad. The feed tip nozzle members are spaced apart a sufficient distance to allow molten metal to pass through the downstream edges to engage the surfaces of the caster rolls. The buffer pad is secured to an outside face of each feed tip nozzle member along the downstream edge. The buffer pad comprises at least an outside face which is less aggressive than the material forming the feed tip nozzle members for minimizing scratching of the rolls. Preferably, an upstream portion of the buffer pad contains a material that expands upon heating for conforming the outside of the pad to the surface of the adjacent roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis M. Smith
  • Patent number: 5095838
    Abstract: A sailboard boom clew fitting member comprising a pair of members (11 and 12) engagable with the ends of a pair of boom members of the boom. One member (11) having a transversely directed socket. The pawl (13) being snugly engagable in the socket and being retained in engagement by a latch member (22) pivotally supported by one of the members and resiliently biassed into a position at which it will be engaged with the engaged pawl member and socket to prevent their disengagement. The pawl member and socket when engaged providing a support surface (15, 17 and 19) for a rope which fixes the clew of a sail to the clew fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Smitech Corporation Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Dennis M. Smith
  • Patent number: 4782780
    Abstract: A mast end boom mounting (10) for a sailing craft comprising a pair of members (11 and 12) hingedly interconnected and shaped to encompass a mast in closely abutting relationship, at least one of the members (11 and 12) being adapted to be mounted to the boom; locking element (17) is provided to engage both members and retain them in close abutting relationship with the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Smitech Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Dennis M. Smith
  • Patent number: 4751958
    Abstract: A method is provided for continuously casting aluminum alloys having more than two percent total alloying elements by a combination of casting at thinner gauges and much higher speeds than usual. Since remelting in the caster is avoided, sheet quality is vastly improved, surface ripples are avoided, and casting rate increased as much 50%. The method is characterized by the thickness of the cast sheet being in the range of from 4 to 5.8 millimeters and the casting rate being in the range of from 1.3 to 1.9 meters per minute. Chlorides in the molten metal are coalesced and oxides filtered to keep the inclusion rate in the cast sheet very low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Flowers, Christopher A. Romanowski, Dennis M. Smith
  • Patent number: 4681152
    Abstract: A method is provided for continuously casting aluminum alloys particularly useful for computer memory disk stock by a combination of casting at thinner gauges and much higher speeds than usual. Sheet quality is vastly improved, surface ripples are avoided, and casting rate increased as much as 50%. The method is characterized by the thickness of the cast sheet being in the range of from 4 to 6 millimeters and the casting rate being in the range of from 0.8 to 1.8 meters per minute. Chlorides in the molten metal are coalesced and oxides filtered to keep the inclusion rate in the cast sheet very low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Flowers, Christopher A. Romanowski, Dennis M. Smith
  • Patent number: 4641767
    Abstract: A molten metal feed tip assembly comprises independently replaceable upstream and downstream units. The upstream unit comprises a pair of upstream plates spaced apart by one or more spacers. The downstream unit is preassembled and comprises a pair of spaced-apart downstream plates, each comprising two or more segments. The downstream unit also comprises spacers for maintaining the spacing between the plates and a brace, which extends across the upstream edges of the downstream plate segments to maintain the segments in edge-to-edge abutment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis M. Smith
  • Patent number: 4340042
    Abstract: An inflatable bag splint with straps which inhibits the bending of a joint. The bag is airtight with an inlet valve and the straps are situated so as to be placed about an arm or leg to prevent movement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Assignee: B.A.G., Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis M. Smith
  • Patent number: 4303181
    Abstract: A molten metal feed tip for a continuous caster for aluminum or the like is made by forming a slurry of refractory fibers in an aqueous solution containing a dispersion of colloidal silica. Liquid is extracted from the slurry to form a flexible felt blanket of refractory fibers which is then compressed in a closed die cavity having the desired geometry of one moiety of the molten metal feed tip. The felt blanket is heated in the closed die cavity to a sufficient temperature to extract water from solution remaining in the blanket to form one rigid moiety of the feed tip. Two such moieties are assembled to form a feed tip having a molten metal feed gap therebetween. The feed tip tapers towards the downstream edges which are compressed to a higher density than the upstream portion of the feed tip. The downstream edges have a greater thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of the upstream portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: William R. Lewis, Dennis M. Smith, Wendell G. Jenness
  • Patent number: 4232804
    Abstract: A molten metal feed tip for a continuous caster for aluminum or the like is made by forming a slurry of refractory fibers in an aqueous solution containing a dispersion of colloidal silica. Liquid is extracted from the slurry to form a flexible felt blanket of refractory fibers which is then compressed in a closed die cavity having the desired geometry of one moiety of the molten metal feed tip. The felt blanket is heated in the closed die cavity to a sufficient temperature to extract water from solution remaining in the blanket to form one rigid moiety of the feed tip. Two such moieties are assembled to form a feed tip having a molten metal feed gap therebetween. The feed tip tapers towards the downstream edges which are compressed to a higher density than the upstream portion of the feed tip. The downstream edges have a greater thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of the upstream portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: William R. Lewis, Dennis M. Smith