Patents by Inventor FRANK HOWARD

FRANK HOWARD 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).

  • Patent number: 11978931
    Abstract: Molten carbonate fuel cell configurations are provided that allow for introduction of an anode input gas flow on a side of the fuel cell that is adjacent to the entry side for the cathode input gas flow while allowing the anode and cathode to operate under co-current flow and/or counter-current flow conditions. It has been discovered that improved flow properties can be achieved within the anode or cathode during co-current flow or counter-current flow operation by diverting the input flow for the anode or cathode into an extended edge seal region (in an extended edge seal chamber) adjacent to the active area of the anode or cathode, and then using a baffle to provide sufficient pressure drop for even flow distribution of the anode input flow across the anode or cathode input flow across the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Christopher Howard, Brandon J. O'Neill, Paul J. Rubas, Frank Hershkowitz, Lu Han, Lawrence J. Novacco, Frank J. Dobek, Jr., Keith E. Davis, Brian Bullecks
  • Patent number: 11634872
    Abstract: A railroad fastening system that includes a see-thru (transparent or translucent) rail seat assembly which allows for immediate visual feedback to assess whether that a sufficient amount of adhesive material has been applied to a crosstie during the installation of a rail seat assembly on a crosstie to ensure a long-lasting bond and a proper cant, flatness and height of a rail seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventors: Frank Howard Coats, Pelle Nghi Duong
  • Patent number: 11155967
    Abstract: A swing railroad turnout that includes a railroad track with a mobile portion and actuators that are used to selectively bend the mobile portion between a first and a second position. In the first position, connection is made to a first track. In the second position, connection is made to a second track. The tracks are formed of rails that are supported on ties or other fixed foundations. The rails are either bent with respect to the ties, or the ties themselves are moved generally transversely to bend the rails. Connecting mechanisms are provided for selective connection of the rail ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats
  • Patent number: 10815623
    Abstract: In a railroad system a track includes ties positioned at predetermined intervals and supporting a pair of rails. Shoulders are disposed in pairs adjacent to the sides of each rail and are partially imbedded in the ties to limit the lateral movement of the rails and define the track gauge. Over time, friction between the insulators and the shoulders may cause excessive wear and a gap therebetween. This wear is compensated by a shim attached to the shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventors: Frank Howard Coats, Scott Tripple, Todd Finley, Dillon Alves Benros
  • Publication number: 20200102706
    Abstract: A railroad fastening system that includes a see-thru (transparent or translucent) rail seat assembly which allows for immediate visual feedback to assess whether that a sufficient amount of adhesive material has been applied to a crosstie during the installation of a rail seat assembly on a crosstie to ensure a long-lasting bond and a proper cant, flatness and height of a rail seat assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Frank Howard COATS, Pelle Nghi DUONG
  • Patent number: 10519608
    Abstract: A plate assembly for securing a rail to a tie that includes a clip and a shoulder with an orifice. At least one of the clip and the shoulder are modified by changing their respective shape to form a positive interference fit therebetween. The modification is provided to ensure that the clip is maintained with its leg partially inserted into the shoulder orifice during staging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventors: Frank Howard Coats, David Tigue, Pelle Duong
  • Patent number: 10422085
    Abstract: Typically, a tie plate assembly for supporting a rail on a tie includes a tie plate and a spike that is driven through the plate into the tie to secure the tie plate to the point. A sleeve is provided on the plate that is inserted into a tie to prevent the deflection of the spike with respect to the ties wheels of a train pass over the tie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats
  • Publication number: 20190127921
    Abstract: A swing railroad turnout that includes a railroad track with a mobile portion and actuators that are used to selectively bend the mobile portion between a first and a second position. In the first position, connection is made to a first track. In the second position, connection is made to a second track. The tracks are formed of rails that are supported on ties or other fixed foundations. The rails are either bent with respect to the ties, or the ties themselves are moved generally transversely to bend the rails. Connecting mechanisms are provided for selective connection of the rail ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventor: Frank Howard COATS
  • Publication number: 20190017227
    Abstract: In a railroad system a track includes ties positioned at predetermined intervals and supporting a pair of rails. Shoulders are disposed in pairs adjacent to the sides of each rail and are partially imbedded in the ties to limit the lateral movement of the rails and define the track gauge. Over time, friction between the insulators and the shoulders may cause excessive wear and a gap therebetween. This wear is compensated by a shim attached to the shoulders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Frank Howard COATS, Scott Tripple, Todd Finley, Dillon Alves Benros
  • Publication number: 20180127924
    Abstract: A plate assembly for securing a rail to a tie that includes a clip and a shoulder with an orifice. At least one of the clip and the shoulder are modified by changing their respective shape to form a positive interference fit therebetween. The modification is provided to ensure that the clip is maintained with its leg partially inserted into the shoulder orifice during staging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Frank Howard COATS, David TIGUE, Pelle DUONG
  • Publication number: 20180058012
    Abstract: Typically, a tie plate assembly for supporting a rail on a tie includes a tie plate and a spike that is driven through the plate into the tie to secure the tie plate to the point. A sleeve is provided on the plate that is inserted into a tie to prevent the deflection of the spike with respect to the ties wheels of a train pass over the tie.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventor: Frank Howard COATS
  • Patent number: 9702091
    Abstract: A tie plate is formed with a profile defining two parallel protrusions with bores for receiving the respective ends of two clips. The two clips engage the flange of a rail to secure the rail to the plate, and therefore, to tie disposed below the plate. Since the protrusions are made integrally with the the plate, the resulting tie plate is able to support the rail securely even in the presence of large forces and/or twisting moments on the rail resulting from a train passing over the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: PANDROL LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats
  • Publication number: 20160305073
    Abstract: A tie plate is formed with a profile defining two parallel protrusions with bores for receiving the respective ends of two clips. The two clips engage the flange of a rail to secure the rail to the plate, and therefore, to tie disposed below the plate. Since the protrusions are made integrally with the the plate, the resulting tie plate is able to support the rail securely even in the presence of large forces and/or twisting moments on the rail resulting from a train passing over the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats
  • Patent number: 9228297
    Abstract: A rail support assembly for mounting and supporting the rail of a railroad system, the assembly including a plate disposed under the rail and including a shoulder hole, a shoulder arranged and constructed to fit in said shoulder hole without rotation with respect to the plate, and a clip having an end received by said shoulder and arranged to bias the rail toward the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats
  • Patent number: 8997401
    Abstract: A door system includes two bi-parting, center-opening, bi-directional door panels disposed for counter-rotating swinging movement in a doorway. An operator is coupled to the door panels via a synchronizing system such that the door panels may be selectively opened in either direction relative to the doorway, and closed in the opposite direction, and such that the door panels swing through substantially equal angular distances. The synchronizing system may include a linkage, among other systems, and the operator may include an electro-mechanical operator, a mechanical door closer with spring, or a hybrid of both. A person may effect an emergency breakout by manually using a single-motion, low-force push against one of the door panels to simultaneously open both door panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Kowalczyk, Frank Howard Luke, John Andrew Nurse, Vinay Namabhai Patel
  • Patent number: 8745373
    Abstract: An information handling system including a receiver for inbound data destined for delivery to a network node, an encryption recognition engine operable to identify whether the inbound data received by the receiver is encrypted and an encryption policy application engine operable to apply encryption policy to the inbound data on the basis of encryption properties identified by the encryption recognition engine in the inbound data. The system may further include an encryption engine operable to selectively encrypt the inbound data on the basis of the encryption policy as applied by the encryption policy application engine and a packet delivery engine operable to deliver the inbound data to its destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Frank Howard Molsberry, Robert L. Winter
  • Publication number: 20140144999
    Abstract: A rail support assembly for mounting and supporting the rail of a railroad system, the assembly including a plate disposed under the rail and including a shoulder hole, a shoulder arranged and constructed to fit in said shoulder hole without rotation with respect to the plate, and a clip having an end received by said shoulder and arranged to bias the rail toward the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventor: Frank Howard COATS
  • Publication number: 20140020298
    Abstract: A door system includes two bi-parting, center-opening, bi-directional door panels disposed for counter-rotating swinging movement in a doorway. An operator is coupled to the door panels via a synchronizing system such that the door panels may be selectively opened in either direction relative to the doorway, and closed in the opposite direction, and such that the door panels swing through substantially equal angular distances. The synchronizing system may include a linkage, among other systems, and the operator may include an electro-mechanical operator, a mechanical door closer with spring, or a hybrid of both. A person may effect an emergency breakout by manually using a single-motion, low-force push against one of the door panels to simultaneously open both door panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Kowalczyk, Frank Howard Luke, John Andrew Nurse, Vinay Namabhai Patel
  • Patent number: 8379016
    Abstract: A geospatial data system may include at least one geospatial data storage device containing three-dimensional (3D) geospatial structure data, and also containing geospatial texture data associated with the geospatial 3D structure data and being retrievable in successive additive layers of resolution. The system may further include at least one geospatial data access device comprising a display and a processor cooperating therewith for communicating remotely with the at least one geospatial data storage device to retrieve and display a scene on the display based upon the 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith. The geospatial texture data may advantageously be retrieved and displayed in successive additive layers of resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Allen Ingersoll, Frank Howard Evans, III
  • Patent number: D736609
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventor: Frank Howard Coats