Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Yoder
Douglas J. Yoder 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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Patent number: 9809289Abstract: A hull mounted, steerable marine drive system having trim actuation is both steerable through 360 degrees and is trimmable. The marine drive system includes a watertight enclosure assembly for sealing the hull, which is adapted for keeping much of the marine drive system from being exposed to water. The enclosure includes a gasket flange plate, a retention plate and a folded gasket. The gasket flange plate closely follows the contour of the hull and enhances the hydrodynamic and wake performance of the present marine drive system. Further, marine drive system includes a forward-neutral-reverse (FNR) transmission assembly, a drive unit assembly having a trimmable upper unit and a steerable lower unit, a steering actuator assembly, a trim actuator assembly, and, preferably, trim foils for providing enhanced negative and positive trim and for providing enhanced positive and negative lift.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2016Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Blue Sky Marine, LLCInventors: Robert E. Nutt, Scott Crutchfield, Robert Scott Beach, Douglas J. Yoder, Douglas G. Bickelhaupt, George Edward Phillips, David J. Gruenwald, Bryan L. Danner
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Publication number: 20160121987Abstract: A hull mounted, steerable marine drive system having trim actuation is both steerable through 360 degrees and is trimmable in a range of from approximately +3 degrees to approximately ?15 degrees. The marine drive system includes a watertight enclosure assembly for sealing the hull, which is adapted for keeping much of the marine drive system from being exposed to water. The enclosure includes a gasket flange plate, a retention plate and a folded gasket. The gasket flange plate closely follows the contour of the hull and enhances the hydrodynamic and wake performance of the present marine drive system. Further, marine drive system includes a forward-neutral-reverse (FNR) transmission assembly, a drive unit assembly having a trimmable upper unit and a steerable lower unit, a steering actuator assembly, a trim actuator assembly, and, preferably, trim foils for providing enhanced negative and positive trim and for providing enhanced positive and negative lift.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2016Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Robert E. Nutt, Scott Crutchfield, Robert Scott Beach, Douglas J. Yoder, Douglas G. Bickelhaupt, George Edward Phillips, David J. Gruenwald, Bryan L. Danner
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Patent number: 9328641Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a catalytic assembly for an engine. The catalytic assembly includes a cooling housing that receives a coolant (e.g., seawater). A catalyst housing is disposed within the cooling housing such that the coolant flows between the catalyst housing and the cooling housing. A catalyst substrate is positioned within the catalyst housing such that exhaust gases from the engine flows through the catalyst substrate. The catalyst substrate serves to covert harmful emissions found in the exhaust gases to less harmful emissions. The catalyst housing includes a first fitting and cooling housing includes a second fitting that mates with the first fitting to prevent rotation of the catalyst housing relative to the cooling housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2012Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: David John Gruenwald, Douglas J. Yoder, George E. Phillips
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Patent number: 9266593Abstract: A hull mounted, steerable marine drive system having trim actuation is both steerable through 360 degrees and is trimmable in a range of from approximately +3 degrees to approximately ?15 degrees. The marine drive system includes a watertight enclosure assembly for sealing the hull, which is adapted for keeping much of the marine drive system from being exposed to water. The enclosure includes a gasket flange plate, a retention plate and a folded gasket. The gasket flange plate closely follows the contour of the hull and enhances the hydrodynamic and wake performance of the present marine drive system. Further, marine drive system includes a forward-neutral-reverse (FNR) transmission assembly, a drive unit assembly having a trimmable upper unit and a steerable lower unit, a steering actuator assembly, a trim actuator assembly, and, preferably, trim foils for enhancing lift to assist in getting the boat up on plane.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Blue Sky Marine, LLCInventors: Robert E. Nutt, Scott Crutchfield, Robert Scott Beach, Douglas J. Yoder, Douglas G. Bickelhaupt, George Edward Phillips, David J. Gruenwald, Bryan L. Danner
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Publication number: 20150050849Abstract: A hull mounted, steerable marine drive system having trim actuation is both steerable through 360 degrees and is trimmable in a range of from approximately +3 degrees to approximately ?15 degrees. The marine drive system includes a watertight enclosure assembly for sealing the hull, which is adapted for keeping much of the marine drive system from being exposed to water. The enclosure includes a gasket flange plate, a retention plate and a folded gasket. The gasket flange plate closely follows the contour of the hull and enhances the hydrodynamic and wake performance of the present marine drive system. Further, marine drive system includes a forward-neutral-reverse (FNR) transmission assembly, a drive unit assembly having a trimmable upper unit and a steerable lower unit, a steering actuator assembly, a trim actuator assembly, and, preferably, trim foils for enhancing lift to assist in getting the boat up on plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2014Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventors: Robert E. Nutt, Scott Crutchfield, Robert Scott Beach, Douglas J. Yoder, Douglas G. Bickelhaupt, George Edward Phillips, David J. Gruenwald, Bryan L. Danner
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Publication number: 20140086804Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a catalytic assembly for an engine. The catalytic assembly includes a cooling housing that receives a coolant (e.g., seawater). A catalyst housing is disposed within the cooling housing such that the coolant flows between the catalyst housing and the cooling housing. A catalyst substrate is positioned within the catalyst housing such that exhaust gases from the engine flows through the catalyst substrate. The catalyst substrate serves to covert harmful emissions found in the exhaust gases to less harmful emissions. The catalyst housing includes a first fitting and cooling housing includes a second fitting that mates with the first fitting to prevent rotation of the catalyst housing relative to the cooling housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: KOHLER CO.Inventors: DAVID JOHN GRUENWALD, DOUGLAS J. YODER, GEORGE E. PHILLIPS
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Patent number: 7610636Abstract: The invention provides a vertical lift mechanism (10) for a bunk bed within a recreational vehicle. The mechanism includes a lateral support assembly (14) that travels up and down in an upright frame assembly (34). The lifting force is provided by a drive unit (12) mounted to the support assembly (14) that winds and unwinds a flexible member (18) through a guide arrangement (68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82) mounted to the support assembly (14). The flexible member (18) is preferably an assembly of cables, more preferably four primary cables (52, 54, 56, 58) each having one end attached to the ceiling of the vehicle and their opposite ends coupled together and linked to a leader cable (50) which is wound about the drive spindle (44). The primary cables (52, 54, 56, 58) travel around the guides (68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82), which can be an arrangement of single and double sheaves or pulleys, to translate the winding force to vertical forces that raise or lower the support assembly (14).Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2005Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Actuant CorporationInventors: James K. Holmes, Douglas J. Yoder, Gary D. Peter
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Publication number: 20080129086Abstract: The invention provides a vertical lift mechanism (10) for a bunk bed within a recreational vehicle. The mechanism includes a lateral support assembly (14) that travels up and down in an upright frame assembly (34). The lifting force is provided by a drive unit (12) mounted to the support assembly (14) that winds and unwinds a flexible member (18) through a guide arrangement (68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82) mounted to the support assembly (14). The flexible member (18) is preferably an assembly of cables, more preferably four primary cables (52, 54, 56, 58) each having one end attached to the ceiling of the vehicle and their opposite ends coupled together and linked to a leader cable (50) which is wound about the drive spindle (44). The primary cables (52, 54, 56, 58) travel around the guides (68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82), which can be an arrangement of single and double sheaves or pulleys, to translate the winding force to vertical forces that raise or lower the support assembly (14).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2005Publication date: June 5, 2008Inventors: James K. Holmes, Douglas J. Yoder, Gary D. Peter
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Patent number: 6802555Abstract: A leveling ramp assembly for a vehicle slide-out room includes a ramp member and a face member, the ends of which are mounted to the vehicle floor by a pair of end members. The ramp provides a declined surface extending from the vehicle floor to a base rail from which a channel flange depends defining an outwardly opening horizontal channel. The face member mounts to the front of the ramp member by inserting its support rail into the channel. The channel flange and support rail have corresponding lengthwise grip regions that mate and improve the connection. The assembly is modular in that any number of shorten ramp or face members can be coupled end to end to span the width of the slide-out room and the face member(s) can be interchanged with other face members having various profiles.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2003Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Actuant CorporationInventors: Douglas J. Yoder, Jerry L. Babcock
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Publication number: 20040130172Abstract: A leveling ramp assembly for a vehicle slide-out room includes a ramp member and a face member, the ends of which are mounted to the vehicle floor by a pair of end members. The ramp provides a declined surface extending from the vehicle floor to a base rail from which a channel flange depends defining an outwardly opening horizontal channel. The face member mounts to the front of the ramp member by inserting its support rail into the channel. The channel flange and support rail have corresponding lengthwise grip regions that mate and improve the connection. The assembly is modular in that any number of shorten ramp or face members can be coupled end to end to span the width of the slide-out room and the face member(s) can be interchanged with other face members having various profiles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventors: Douglas J. Yoder, Jerry L. Babcock
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Patent number: 5034342Abstract: A moat having a flat bottom and tapered side walls is formed in a monocrystalline silicon body (substrate) and extends from a top surface of the substrate into the substrate. An oxide layer is grown over side walls and a bottom of the moat and then is selectively removed from the bottom of the moat to expose silicon. An epitaxial stalk (a recessed mesa) is grown on the silicon at the bottom of the moat to a height which makes its top at least coplanar with the top surface of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1990Date of Patent: July 23, 1991Assignee: Delco Electronics CorporationInventors: Diane W. Sidner, Douglas J. Yoder, David E. Moss
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Patent number: 4993143Abstract: A pressure sensor uses a monocrystalline silicon chip that has a diaphragm portion in which strain gages are formed that overlie a buried cavity. The cavity is formed by a single sided semiconductor fabrication process that includes a pair of preferential etching steps and an epitaxial deposition step.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1990Date of Patent: February 19, 1991Assignee: Delco Electronics CorporationInventors: Diane W. Sidner, Douglas J. Yoder, David E. Moss
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Patent number: 4977101Abstract: A monolithic pressure sensitive silicon integrated circuit is formed by first providing a localized etch-stop layer on one surface of the silicon chip, then growing successive epitaxial layers of opposite conductivity types over this surface. In the upper of the two layers, there is formed a bridge of four piezoresistors overlying the periphery of the etch-stop layer and the conditioning circuitry for amplifying the output of the bridge including both lateral and vertical junction transistors. The back surface of the chip is etched anisotropically to form a cavity that leaves a thin diaphragm underlying the bridge of the four piezoresistors.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1989Date of Patent: December 11, 1990Assignee: Delco Electronics CorporationInventors: Douglas J. Yoder, Ronald E. Brown, Paul E. Stevenson, Donald L. Hornback, Ronald K. Leisure
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Patent number: 4975759Abstract: A moat having a flat bottom and tapered side walls is formed in a monocrystalline silicon body (substrate) and extends from a top surface of the substrate into the substrate. An oxide layer is grown over side walls and a bottom of the moat and then is selectively removed from the bottom of the moat to expose silicon. An epitaxial stalk (a recessed mesa) is grown on the silicon at the bottom of the moat to a height which makes its top at least coplanar with the top surface of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1989Date of Patent: December 4, 1990Assignee: Delco Electronics CorporationInventors: Diane W. Sidner, Douglas J. Yoder, David E. Moss
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Patent number: 4945769Abstract: A pressure sensor uses a monocrystalline silicon chip that has a diaphragm portion in which strain gages are formed that overlie a buried cavity. The cavity is formed by a single sided semiconductor fabrication process that includes a pair of preferential etching steps and an epitaxial deposition step.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1989Date of Patent: August 7, 1990Assignee: Delco Electronics CorporationInventors: Diane W. Sidner, Douglas J. Yoder, David E. Moss
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Patent number: 4885621Abstract: A monolithic pressure sensitive silicon integrated circuit is formed by first providing a localized etch-stop layer on one surface of the silicon chip, then growing successive epitaxial layers of opposite conductivity types over this surface. In the upper of the two layers, there is formed a bridge of four piezoresistors overlying the periphery of the etch-stop layer and the conditioning circuitry for amplifying the output of the bridge including both lateral and vertical junction transistors. The back surface of the chip is etched anisotropically to form a cavity that leaves a thin diaphragm underlying the bridge of the four piezoresistors.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1988Date of Patent: December 5, 1989Assignee: Delco Electronics CorporationInventors: Douglas J. Yoder, Ronald E. Brown, Paul E. Stevenson, Donald L. Hornback, Ronald K. Leisure