Patents by Inventor Donald A. Graham
Donald A. Graham 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).
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Publication number: 20240091897Abstract: A tire pre-conditioning system includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel spaced apart from the first mandrel, and a controller in communication with the first mandrel and the second mandrel. The first mandrel is fixedly attached to a first shaft and including a first tapered sidewall. The second mandrel is fixedly attached to a second shaft and including a second tapered sidewall. The controller is operable to axially move the first mandrel and the second mandrel toward one another until the first and second tapered sidewalls are opposing respective beads of a tire, and supply pressurized fluid into an internal cavity of the tire to inflate the tire. The inflating causing the beads to move relative to mandrels while contacting the opposing respective tapered sidewalls to burnish the beads of the tire.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Barry Allan Clark, Donald Graham Straitiff, David Paul Donnay
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Patent number: 11865669Abstract: A tire pre-conditioning system includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel spaced apart from the first mandrel, and a controller in communication with the first mandrel and the second mandrel. The first mandrel is fixedly attached to a first shaft and including a first tapered sidewall. The second mandrel is fixedly attached to a second shaft and including a second tapered sidewall. The controller is operable to axially move the first mandrel and the second mandrel toward one another until the first and second tapered sidewalls are opposing respective beads of a tire, and supply pressurized fluid into an internal cavity of the tire to inflate the tire. The inflating causing the beads to move relative to mandrels while contacting the opposing respective tapered sidewalls to burnish the beads of the tire.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Barry A. Clark, Donald Graham Straitiff, David Paul Donnay
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Patent number: 11801717Abstract: A stemming system includes a computing device and a stemming device. The computing device includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware. The data processing hardware includes a transmitter and a receiver. The stemming device is communicatively-coupled to the computing device. The stemming device includes a base portion and a valve-engaging portion. The valve-engaging portion includes a transducer that obtains a measurement communicated to the receiver of the computing device. The measurement includes at least one physical parameter associated with installing a tire-wheel assembly valve to a wheel throughout a process of disposing the valve within a valve hole of the wheel. The processor analyzes a data signature associated with the measurement for determining if the valve has been adequately or inadequately installed by the stemming device.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2022Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Steven Edward Lind
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Publication number: 20230001754Abstract: A stemming system includes a computing device and a stemming device. The computing device includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware. The data processing hardware includes a transmitter and a receiver. The stemming device is communicatively-coupled to the computing device. The stemming device includes a base portion and a valve-engaging portion. The valve-engaging portion includes a transducer that obtains a measurement communicated to the receiver of the computing device. The measurement includes at least one physical parameter associated with installing a tire-wheel assembly valve to a wheel throughout a process of disposing the valve within a valve hole of the wheel. The processor analyzes a data signature associated with the measurement for determining if the valve has been adequately or inadequately installed by the stemming device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Steven Edward Lind
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Patent number: 11493771Abstract: A system and method. The system may include a head-up display (HUD). The HUD may include a positionable combiner optical element (COE) and a combiner alignment detector (CAD) configured to conform images displayed on the positionable COE with a view through the positionable COE. The CAD may include a mirror that moves with the positionable COE, an infrared (IR) emitter configured to emit IR pulses onto the mirror with a duty cycle of less than 1% such that an average time-based radiance of the IR pulses is compatible with a night vision imaging system (NVIS), and an IR detector configured to receive the IR pulses reflected off of the mirror.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Joshua Gerdes, Carl Bycraft, Kurt A. Stahl, Christopher A. Keith, Donald Graham
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Patent number: 11472240Abstract: A stemming system includes a computing device and a stemming device. The computing device includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware. The data processing hardware includes a transmitter and a receiver. The stemming device is communicatively-coupled to the computing device. The stemming device includes a base portion and a valve-engaging portion. The valve-engaging portion includes a transducer that obtains a measurement communicated to the receiver of the computing device. The measurement includes at least one physical parameter associated with installing a tire-wheel assembly valve to a wheel throughout a process of disposing the valve within a valve hole of the wheel. The processor analyzes a data signature associated with the measurement for determining if the valve has been adequately or inadequately installed by the stemming device.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Steven Edward Lind
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Patent number: 11396150Abstract: A system for preparing an interior surface of a tire for an adhesive includes a turntable configured to remove a layer of material from the tire, and a manipulator operable to move and rotate the tire. The turntable includes a platform rotatable about a first axis. An ablation module is disposed within the platform and includes one or more lasers each configured to emit a laser beam for removing the layer of material from the tire. A plurality of guide rollers extend from the platform and are operable between a retracted position and an extended position to selectively secure the tire to the platform. An exhaust system is disposed adjacent to the one or more lasers.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Barry A. Clark, Lawrence J. Lawson, Keith Masserang
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Publication number: 20210341745Abstract: A system and method. The system may include a head-up display (HUD). The HUD may include a positionable combiner optical element (COE) and a combiner alignment detector (CAD) configured to conform images displayed on the positionable COE with a view through the positionable COE. The CAD may include a mirror that moves with the positionable COE, an infrared (IR) emitter configured to emit IR pulses onto the mirror with a duty cycle of less than 1% such that an average time-based radiance of the IR pulses is compatible with a night vision imaging system (NVIS), and an IR detector configured to receive the IR pulses reflected off of the mirror.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2019Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Joshua Gerdes, Carl Bycraft, Kurt A. Stahl, Christopher A. Keith, Donald Graham
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Patent number: 10996142Abstract: A pneumatic tire pre-conditioning system includes a conveyor system, a belt assembly, a friction device and a drive system. The conveyor system includes a tire engaging surface, a first side, and a second side. The belt assembly is adjacent to the first side of the tire engaging surface. The friction device is adjacent to the second side of the tire engaging surface. The drive system is configured to move a tire along the tire engaging surface in a path between the belt assembly and the friction device.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Anthony Willard Pierce, Kerry Verran, Andrew Douglas Schmidt
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Patent number: 10994494Abstract: A method for installing a sensor onto an inner surface of a tire is generally disclosed. The method includes robotically deglazing at least a portion of the inner surface of the tire, defining a preconditioned surface. The sensor is robotically selected and a target surface of the sensor is cleaned. An adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the target surface of the sensor. In some embodiments, the adhesive is applied to a portion of the preconditioned surface. The sensor is robotically positioned, wherein the target surface of the sensor abuts the preconditioned surface. A wet-out operation is performed, wherein a predetermined pressure is applied to the sensor for a predetermined period of time to affix the sensor to the preconditioned surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Barry A. Clark, Donald Graham Straitiff, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Anthony Willard Pierce
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Patent number: 10675927Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes a processing station for processing at least one of a tire and a wheel prior to joining the tire and the wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly. The processing station includes one of a tire lubricating sub-station and a wheel lubricating sub-station. A lubrication conditioning system is fluidly-coupled to the processing station. The lubrication conditioning system includes: a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature modifier arranged at least proximate to the lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature sensor arranged within a cavity formed by the lubricant reservoir and a controller communicatively-coupled to both of the lubricant temperature modifier and the lubricant temperature sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Barry Allan Clark, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Robert Reece, David Henry Larson
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Patent number: 10598560Abstract: A balancing device, a uniformity device and an apparatus including the balancing device and the uniformity device are disclosed. Each of the balancing device and the uniformity device includes at least one multi-axis transducer. Methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Robert Reece, Barry Allan Clark, Donald Graham Straitiff
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Publication number: 20190255782Abstract: A method for installing a sensor onto an inner surface of a tire is generally disclosed. The method includes robotically deglazing at least a portion of the inner surface of the tire, defining a preconditioned surface. The sensor is robotically selected and a target surface of the sensor is cleaned. An adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the target surface of the sensor. In some embodiments, the adhesive is applied to a portion of the preconditioned surface. The sensor is robotically positioned, wherein the target surface of the sensor abuts the preconditioned surface. A wet-out operation is performed, wherein a predetermined pressure is applied to the sensor for a predetermined period of time to affix the sensor to the preconditioned surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Barry A. Clark, Donald Graham Straitiff, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Anthony Willard Pierce
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Publication number: 20190248084Abstract: A system for preparing an interior surface of a tire for an adhesive includes a turntable configured to remove a layer of material from the tire, and a manipulator operable to move and rotate the tire. The turntable includes a platform rotatable about a first axis. An ablation module is disposed within the platform and includes one or more lasers each configured to emit a laser beam for removing the layer of material from the tire. A plurality of guide rollers extend from the platform and are operable between a retracted position and an extended position to selectively secure the tire to the platform. An exhaust system is disposed adjacent to the one or more lasers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Barry A. Clark, Lawrence J. Lawson, Keith Masserang
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Publication number: 20190232737Abstract: A stemming system is disclosed. The stemming system includes a computing device, a stemming device and an algorithm. The computing device includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware. The data processing hardware includes a transmitter and a receiver. The stemming device is communicatively-coupled to the computing device. The stemming device includes a base portion and a valve-engaging portion. The valve-engaging portion includes a transducer that obtains a measurement communicated to the receiver of the computing device. The measurement includes at least one physical parameter associated with installing a tire-wheel assembly valve to a wheel throughout a process of disposing the valve within a valve hole of the wheel. The algorithm is executed by a processor of the data processing hardware for analyzing a data signature associated with the measurement for determining if the valve has been adequately or inadequately installed by the stemming device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Steven Edward Lind
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Patent number: 10359333Abstract: A balancing device, a uniformity device and an apparatus including the balancing device and the uniformity device are disclosed. Each of the balancing device and the uniformity device includes at least one multi-axis transducer. Methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Robert Reece, Barry Allan Clark, Donald Graham Straitiff
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Publication number: 20190187028Abstract: A pneumatic tire pre-conditioning system includes a conveyor system, a belt assembly, a friction device and a drive system. The conveyor system includes a tire engaging surface, a first side, and a second side. The belt assembly is adjacent to the first side of the tire engaging surface. The friction device is adjacent to the second side of the tire engaging surface. The drive system is configured to move a tire along the tire engaging surface in a path between the belt assembly and the friction device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2018Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Anthony Willard Pierce, Kerry Verran, Andrew Douglas Schmidt
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Publication number: 20190118327Abstract: A tire pre-conditioning system includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel spaced apart from the first mandrel, and a controller in communication with the first mandrel and the second mandrel. The first mandrel is fixedly attached to a first shaft and including a first tapered sidewall. The second mandrel is fixedly attached to a second shaft and including a second tapered sidewall. The controller is operable to axially move the first mandrel and the second mandrel toward one another until the first and second tapered sidewalls are opposing respective beads of a tire, and supply pressurized fluid into an internal cavity of the tire to inflate the tire. The inflating causing the beads to move relative to mandrels while contacting the opposing respective tapered sidewalls to burnish the beads of the tire.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Barry A. Clark, Donald Graham Straitiff, David Paul Donnay
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Patent number: 10215657Abstract: A weight applicator system includes a shaft, an applicator assembly, and a weight feed assembly. The shaft defines a length between a proximal end and a distal end configured to support a wheel-tire assembly for common rotation about a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The applicator assembly is supported by the shaft and includes a base portion disposed upon the shaft and operable to translate axially along the length of the shaft, a radial portion connected to the base portion and operable to radially move relative to the base portion between a retracted position and an extended position; and a pressure roller rotatably supported by the radial portion about an axis of rotation. The weight feed assembly is operable to feed a prescribed length of weighted material to the pressure roller.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Barry Allan Clark, David Henry Larson, Daniel David Larson, Kyle John Swinter, Lawrence J. Lawson
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Patent number: 10160084Abstract: A tire pre-conditioning system includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel spaced apart from the first mandrel, and a controller in communication with the first mandrel and the second mandrel. The first mandrel is fixedly attached to a first shaft and including a first tapered sidewall. The second mandrel is fixedly attached to a second shaft and including a second tapered sidewall. The controller is operable to axially move the first mandrel and the second mandrel toward one another until the first and second tapered sidewalls are opposing respective beads of a tire, and supply pressurized fluid into an internal cavity of the tire to inflate the tire. The inflating causing the beads to move relative to the mandrels while contacting the opposing respective tapered sidewalls to burnish the beads of the tire.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Barry Allan Clark, Donald Graham Straitiff, David Paul Donnay