Patents by Inventor Devin T. Smith

Devin T. 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).

  • NON-DESTRUCTIVE BELT DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20230150220
    Abstract: Systems and methods of buffing tire casings are provided. A tire buffing machine includes a tire hub assembly selectively rotating a mounted casing, a buffer configured to buff the casing, a tire belt detection apparatus having two or more sensors to detect a first belt depth of one or more belts at a first lateral position in a tire casing and a second belt depth of the one or more belts at a second lateral position within the tire casing, and an electronic controller. The controller determines the first belt depth and the second belt depth using a belt detection apparatus having two or more sensors of the belt detection apparatus and adjusts the operation of the buffer based on the first belt depth or the second belt depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC
    Inventors: James A. Kendall, JR., Robert P. Hardy, Devin T. Smith, Zachary Milliron, Jeffrey A. Wachtel, Matthew J. Abraham, Jaime J. Benitez, Jeremiah J. Nartker, Alexander G. Tomtschik, Wade L. Terrill
  • Non-destructive belt detection apparatus and method
    Patent number: 11571868
    Abstract: Systems and methods of buffing tire casings are provided. A tire buffing machine includes a tire hub assembly selectively rotating a mounted casing, a buffer configured to buff the casing, a tire belt detection apparatus having two or more sensors to detect a first belt depth of one or more belts at a first lateral position in a tire casing and a second belt depth of the one or more belts at a second lateral position within the tire casing, and an electronic controller. The controller determines the first belt depth and the second belt depth using a belt detection apparatus having two or more sensors of the belt detection apparatus and adjusts the operation of the buffer based on the first belt depth or the second belt depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventors: James A. Kendall, Jr., Robert P. Hardy, Devin T. Smith, Zachary Milliron, Jeffrey A. Wachtel, Matthew J. Abraham, Jaime J. Benitez, Jeremiah J. Nartker, Alexander G. Tomtschik, Wade L. Terrill
  • NON-DESTRUCTIVE BELT DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20190202157
    Abstract: Systems and methods of buffing tire casings are provided. A tire buffing machine includes a tire hub assembly selectively rotating a mounted casing, a buffer configured to buff the casing, a tire belt detection apparatus having two or more sensors to detect a first belt depth of one or more belts at a first lateral position in a tire casing and a second belt depth of the one or more belts at a second lateral position within the tire casing, and an electronic controller. The controller determines the first belt depth and the second belt depth using a belt detection apparatus having two or more sensors of the belt detection apparatus and adjusts the operation of the buffer based on the first belt depth or the second belt depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: James A. Kendall, Jr., Robert P. Hardy, Devin T. Smith, Zachary Milliron, Jeffrey A. Wachtel, Matthew J. Abraham, Jaime J. Benitez, Jeremiah J. Nartker, Alexander G. Tomtschik, Wade L. Terrill