Patents by Inventor James C. Smith

James C. 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).

  • Patent number: 11976036
    Abstract: Processes for producing n-heptane from a mixture of 1-hexene and 1-octene in the presence of a suitable isomerization-metathesis catalyst followed by a hydrogenation step are disclosed. Integrated manufacturing systems for producing n-heptane with minimal waste also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Steven M. Bischof, Jeffery C Gee, James Hillier, Kamaljeet Kaur, Ronald C. Smith, Darin B. Tiedtke, Mark L. Hlavinka
  • Publication number: 20240128765
    Abstract: A method of cell balancing for a battery comprising a plurality of cells. The method comprises determining a cell balancing strategy based on at least one of a cell chemistry of the battery; an expected use cycle of the battery; and a first state of the battery, wherein the first state is a detected state of the battery. The method further comprises discharging one or more cells according to the cell balancing strategy when the battery is in a second state, wherein the second state is a detected state of the battery. The cell balancing strategy is configured to discharge one or more of the plurality of cells such that a balancing parameter of each cell being discharged reaches a threshold value. The balancing parameter comprises at least one of a voltage; a state of charge; and a voltage difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James Kieran MCCLOSKEY, Alexander C. CROSMAN, V.Kameswara Kiran RAJALA, Srihari Ranganathan N., Michael David SMITH
  • Patent number: 11933094
    Abstract: A vertical panel door stacking system for a door having panels with end caps coupled thereto. The end caps include a body portion, a cam lever to rotate around an axis to generate a lift force to lift and separate an adjacent pair of panels of the panels of the door, a first track wheel, a second track wheel, and a third track wheel. The track wheels interact with a track system to guide movement of the door panels between a closed position and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CornellCookson, LLC
    Inventors: James Janick, Thomas Balay, Brandon C. Smith
  • Patent number: 11927055
    Abstract: In example implementations, a horizontal door guide for a vertically stacking door is provided. The horizontal door guide includes a first track and a second track to vertically stack panels of a door along a horizontal line, a drive shaft coupled to a bottom most panel to lift the door vertically, a Geneva drive shaft coupled to the drive shaft, and a lifting cam coupled to the Geneva drive shaft, wherein the lifting cam comprises a rotating lever to separate and lift adjacent panels of the door as the door is opened in a vertical direction by the drive shaft and to push panels into the first track and the second track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: CornellCookson, LLC
    Inventors: James Janick, Thomas Balay, Brandon C. Smith
  • Patent number: 11654820
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for a laterally extendable backup light system for placement on the trailer of the 18-wheeler tractor trailer truck. The backup light would be mounted underneath an outer edge of the trailer of the tractor-trailer so that it would be extendable laterally away from the edge of the trailer so that the light portion would extend far enough outwardly to travel beyond the outer edge of the trailer so that the beam of light emanating therefrom would illuminate the area behind the rear of the trailer. A linear actuator controlled wirelessly or via hardwire by the driver of the truck would actuate the light portion of the device so that the light portion would extend from an enclosure beyond the edge of the trailer of the truck-trailer or would be retracted back into the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: James C. Smith
  • Patent number: 11261747
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes an aerofoil configured to interact with gases flowing through the gas turbine engine along a gas path, an outer platform that defines an outer boundary of a gas path, and an inner platform that defines an inner boundary of the gas path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventors: Emma C. Steedman, Michael J. Whittle, Edward M. Jones, James C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210269049
    Abstract: A fail-safe interface for a by-wire vehicle control system merges driver commands and external commands developed by a by-wire control unit to form a failure-tolerant actuator command that never diminishes a driver command. External commands are passed through a fault detection circuit that filters out aberrant cyclical and constant command signals from the by-wire control unit, and the actuator command is determined according to the higher or maximum of the driver-generated and external commands. The interface is powered by vehicle power supply, and is electro-optically isolated from the external control unit so that if the external control unit loses power, the actuator command faithfully follows the driver command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: DATASPEED INC.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Hallenbeck, Steven J. Grzebyk, James C. Smith
  • Patent number: 11060409
    Abstract: A turbine blade of ceramic matrix composite material construction adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil assembly. The airfoil assembly includes an airfoil and at least one reinforcement inset coupled to the airfoil assembly. The reinforcement inset is configured to resist damage to the airfoil assembly due to objects impacting the airfoil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventors: Edward M. Jones, Michael J. Whittle, James C. Smith, Emma C. Steedman, Ian Edmonds
  • Patent number: 11041610
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for a laterally extendable backup light system for placement on the trailer of the 18-wheeler tractor trailer truck device. The light is mounted underneath an outer edge of the trailer of the tractor-trailer so that they would be extendable laterally away from the edge of the trailer so that the light portion of the present invention would extend far enough outwardly to travel beyond the outer edge of the trailer so that the beam of light emanating therefrom would illuminate the area behind the rear of the trailer. An air cylinder operated by an electrical actuator controlled by the driver and/or the transmission of the truck would actuate the light portion so that the light portion would extends from an enclosure and beyond the edge of the trailer of the truck-trailer when the transmission is placed in reverse and then the light portion would be retracted back into the enclosure by an electrical actuator when the transmission is taken out of reverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventor: James C. Smith
  • Patent number: 11011368
    Abstract: A microwave excited ultraviolet lamp system with a data logging and retrieval circuit and method for operating the same. The data logging and retrieval circuit stores operational data in a cache memory using a FIFO data storage protocol. The contents of the cache memory are periodically copied to a larger removable memory so that the removable memory contains a relatively long historical record of the system operational parameters. The data logging and retrieval circuit includes a data port configured to load the contents of the cache memory into an external device when the device is coupled to the data port. A second data port allows the external device to supply power to the data logging and retrieval circuit so that data may be retrieved when the internal power supply is malfunctioning. Data stored in the removable memory may be protected so that it may only be accessed by authorized personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Borsuk, James M. Khoury, Edward C. McGhee, James C. Smith
  • Patent number: 10883371
    Abstract: A component adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes an aerofoil configured to interact with gases flowing through the gas turbine engine along a gas path. The aerofoil is formed to include a first passage that extends radially at least partway into the aerofoil and a second passage that extends radially into the aerofoil at a trailing edge of the aerofoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventors: James C. Smith, Emma C. Steedman, Michael J. Whittle, Edward M. Jones
  • Publication number: 20200400026
    Abstract: A component adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes an aerofoil configured to interact with gases flowing through the gas turbine engine along a gas path. The aerofoil is formed to include a first passage that extends radially at least partway into the aerofoil and a second passage that extends radially into the aerofoil at a trailing edge of the aerofoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: James C. Smith, Emma C. Steedman, Michael J. Whittle, Edward M. Jones
  • Patent number: 10865142
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cementitious composition comprising: dispersing expanded polymeric microspheres into a liquid dispersion, optionally wherein the liquid dispersion comprises an aqueous dispersion; and incorporating the liquid dispersion comprising expanded polymeric microspheres into the cementitious composition; wherein the expanded polymeric microspheres are present in the liquid dispersion in an amount of about 0.1 to about 15 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the dispersion, prior to incorporation into the cementitious composition. An admixture for cementitious compositions comprising unexpanded polymeric microspheres and sodium hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Construction Research & Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Shaode Ong, Rick Paponetti, James C. Smith, Stefan Muessig
  • Publication number: 20200362712
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes an aerofoil configured to interact with gases flowing through the gas turbine engine along a gas path, an outer platform that defines an outer boundary of a gas path, and an inner platform that defines an inner boundary of the gas path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Emma C. Steedman, Michael J. Whittle, Edward M. Jones, James C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200362706
    Abstract: A turbine blade of ceramic matrix composite material construction adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil assembly. The airfoil assembly includes an airfoil and at least one reinforcement inset coupled to the airfoil assembly. The reinforcement inset is configured to resist damage to the airfoil assembly due to objects impacting the airfoil assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Edward M. Jones, Michael J. Whittle, James C. Smith, Emma C. Steedman, Ian Edmonds
  • Patent number: 10774000
    Abstract: A freeze-thaw damage resistance and scaling damage resistance admixture for a cementitious composition including an aqueous slurry comprising a water insoluble superabsorbent polymer and expandable polymeric microspheres. A method for preparing a freeze-thaw damage resistant and scaling damage resistant cementitious composition including forming a mixture of a hydraulic cement and an admixture including an aqueous slurry of a water insoluble superabsorbent polymer and expanded polymeric microspheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Construction Research & Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Shaode Ong, James C. Smith, Raymond Fete, Rick Paponetti
  • Patent number: 10640422
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cementitious composition comprising: dispersing expanded polymeric microspheres into a liquid dispersion, optionally wherein the liquid dispersion comprises an aqueous dispersion; and incorporating the liquid dispersion comprising expanded polymeric microspheres into the cementitious composition; wherein the expanded polymeric microspheres are present in the liquid dispersion in an amount of about 0.1 to about 15 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the dispersion, prior to incorporation into the cementitious composition. An admixture for cementitious compositions comprising unexpanded polymeric microspheres and sodium hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Construction Research & Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Shaode Ong, Rick Paponetti, James C. Smith, Stefan Muessig
  • Patent number: 10410819
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for optimizing the cooling of a UV bulb during a UV irradiation process is described. A power level in which to operate the UV bulb is received. In addition, a particular type of UV bulb being used in the UV irradiation process is received. Thereafter, at least one optimal UV cooling parameter that corresponds to the power level and the type of UV bulb is retrieved from a UV source parameters database. At least one control signal is then sent to a cooling device that is based on the retrieved optimal UV cooling parameter, and the control signal instructs the cooling device to cool the particular type of UV bulb according to the retrieved optimal UV cooling parameter during the UV irradiation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Borsuk, James Khoury, Edward C. McGhee, James C. Smith
  • Patent number: 9586348
    Abstract: An apparatus including: (a) a steam generator having a power output of less than or equal to about 6 boiler horsepower; (b) a steam conduit in fluid communication with the steam generator; (c) a fluid material conduit in fluid communication with a source of a fluid material, wherein the fluid material includes unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres; (d) a treatment zone in fluid communication with the steam generator via the steam conduit, and with the fluid material conduit, such that the fluid material is contacted by steam within the treatment zone; and (e) a back pressure generator in fluid communication with the treatment zone, capable of increasing pressure in the treatment zone, which results in expansion of the expandable polymeric microspheres when the fluid material exits the treatment zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: Construction Research & Technology GmbH, AkzoNobel Chemicals International B.V.
    Inventors: Frank Shaode Ong, Stefan Muessig, Darren Gambatesa, James C. Smith, Rick Paponetti, Mark A. Bury, Fredrik Svensson, Jan Nordin, Jermaine Simmons
  • Publication number: 20170047190
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for optimizing the cooling of a UV bulb during a UV irradiation process is described. A power level in which to operate the UV bulb is received. In addition, a particular type of UV bulb being used in the UV irradiation process is received. Thereafter, at least one optimal UV cooling parameter that corresponds to the power level and the type of UV bulb is retrieved from a UV source parameters database. At least one control signal is then sent to a cooling device that is based on the retrieved optimal UV cooling parameter, and the control signal instructs the cooling device to cool the particular type of UV bulb according to the retrieved optimal UV cooling parameter during the UV irradiation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: James M. BORSUK, James KHOURY, Edward C. MCGHEE, James C. SMITH