Patents by Inventor James F. Ulrich

James F. Ulrich 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: 7022935
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system including a plasma cutting torch having an output electrode and a plasma cutter starting circuit configured to generate a pilot arc at the output electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Tim A. Matus, Troy A. Sommerfeld, Joseph C. Schneider, James F. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6992262
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for a plasma cutting system including a plasma cutting power source and a plasma torch operationally connected to the plasma cutting power source. A processing unit is disposed within the plasma torch and is configured to control the plasma cutting power source during a plasma cutting process based on operational feedback gathered of the plasma cutting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Tim A. Matus, David Lambert, Joseph C. Schneider, James F. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6781085
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for coordinating the idle mode of a plasma cutter with the idle mode of a power supply so as to prevent lock-out of the plasma cutter when the power supply is in an idle operating state. By putting the plasma cutter in a non-lock-out or “sleep” mode, fuel consumption as well as noise generated by the power supply are reduced. Additionally, by placing the plasma cutter in sleep mode, the user need not turn the power switch of the plasma cutter on and off in order to save power. User input to the plasma cutter kicks the power supply out of idle. The power supply will remain at a non-idle, full operating run mode during the cutting process. However, once the cut is complete and the current draw of the plasma cutter is at a level lower than the power supply idle mode, the plasma cutter will return to sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Joseph Schneider
  • Patent number: 6740508
    Abstract: Corn oil and corn meal obtained from corn are included in useful products. A method for producing fermentation-based products comprises combining corn meal with water and an enzyme, and mixing the combination with a micro-organism capable of fermenting a carbon source to produce a fermentation-based product. The corn meal is produced by cracking whole corn, conditioning the whole corn and extracting the whole corn to produce corn meal. The corn grain process generally includes the steps of cracking corn grain having a total oil content of from about 3% by weight to about 6% by weight and extracting a corn oil from the cracked corn grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Renessen LLC
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Neal Torrey Jakel
  • Publication number: 20040069752
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for coordinating the idle mode of a plasma cutter with the idle mode of a power supply so as to prevent lock-out of the plasma cutter when the power supply is in an idle operating state. By putting the plasma cutter in a non-lock-out or “sleep” mode, fuel consumption as well as noise generated by the power supply are reduced. Additionally, by placing the plasma cutter in sleep mode, the user need not turn the power switch of the plasma cutter on and off in order to save power. User input to the plasma cutter kicks the power supply out of idle. The power supply will remain at a non-idle, full operating run mode during the cutting process. However, once the cut is complete and the current draw of the plasma cutter is at a level lower than the power supply idle mode, the plasma cutter will return to sleep mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Joseph Schneider
  • Publication number: 20040058052
    Abstract: Corn oil and corn meal obtained from high oil corn are included in useful products. The corn oil is extracted from the high oil corn to form the corn meal. The corn oil generally comprises levels of nutrients not found in commercially available corn oils, since most or all of the corn grain, rather than just the germ, is exposed to the extraction process. The corn grain generally includes the steps of flaking corn grain having a total oil content of at least about 6 wt. % and extracting a corn oil from the flaked corn grain. The corn oil is useful for making nutritionally enhanced edible oil or cooking oil, lubricants, biodiesel, fuel, cosmetics and oil-based or oil-containing chemical products. The extracted corn meal is useful for making enhanced animal feed rations, snack food, blended food products, cosmetics, and fermentation broth additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicants: Renessen LLC, Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Neal T. Jakel, Douglas C. Kotowski, Joel Ingvalson, Brent Aufdembrink, Michael J. Tupy, Eugene J. Fox, Michael J. Beaver, Stephan C. Anderson, Beth Anderson
  • Patent number: 6707001
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an overvoltage protection control that includes a combination of hardware and software that together detect and determine an average voltage of a power signal being supplied by a power source to a welding-type device. The determined average voltage is then compared to a “trip” voltage. If the average voltage is greater than or equal to the trip voltage then the welding-type device is disabled. The present invention may also be implemented as an undervoltage control wherein the detected average voltage is compared to a minimum acceptable average voltage. If the average voltage of the power signal being supplied to the welding-type device is less than the minimum acceptable average voltage, the welding-type device is prevented from being operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 6703227
    Abstract: Corn oil and corn meal obtained from high oil corn are included in useful products. A method of producing fermentation-based products comprising combining corn meal remaining after the extraction of oil from whole high oil corn with water and an enzyme. This combination is incubated and then mixed with a micro-organism capable of fermenting a carbon source to produce fermentation-based products such as ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Renessen LLC
    Inventors: Neal Torrey Jakel, James F. Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20030224496
    Abstract: Corn oil and corn meal obtained from corn are included in useful products. A method for producing fermentation-based products comprises combining corn meal with water and an enzyme, and mixing the combination with a micro-organism capable of fermenting a carbon source to produce a fermentation-based product. The corn meal is produced by cracking whole corn, conditioning the whole corn and extracting the whole corn to produce corn meal without flaking the corn during processing. The corn grain process generally includes the steps of cracking corn grain having a total oil content of from about 3% by weight to about 30% by weight and extracting a corn oil from the cracked corn grain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Renessen LLC
    Inventors: Neal Torrey Jakel, James F. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6648930
    Abstract: Corn oil and corn meal obtained from high oil corn are included in useful products. The corn oil is extracted from the high oil corn to form the corn meal. The corn oil generally comprises levels of nutrients not found in commercially available corn oils, since most or all of the corn grain, rather than just the germ, is exposed to the extraction process. The corn grain generally includes the steps of flaking corn grain having a total oil content of at least about 6 wt. % and extracting a corn oil from the flaked corn grain. The corn oil is useful for making nutritionally enhanced edible oil or cooking oil, lubricants, biodiesel, fuel, cosmetics and oil-based or oil-containing chemical products. The extracted corn meal is useful for making enhanced animal feed rations, snack food, blended food products, cosmetics, and fermentation broth additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignees: Renessen LLC, Cargill, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Neal T. Jakel
  • Publication number: 20030194788
    Abstract: Corn oil and corn meal obtained from high oil corn are included in useful products. A method of producing fermentation-based products comprising combining corn meal remaining after the extraction of oil from whole high oil corn with water and an enzyme. This combination is incubated and then mixed with a micro-organism capable of fermenting a carbon source to produce fermentation-based products such as ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Renessen, LLC.
    Inventors: Neal Torrey Jakel, James F. Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20030180897
    Abstract: Corn oil and corn meal obtained from corn are included in useful products. A method for producing fermentation-based products comprises combining corn meal with water and an enzyme, and mixing the combination with a micro-organism capable of fermenting a carbon source to produce a fermentation-based product. The corn meal is produced by cracking whole corn, conditioning the whole corn and extracting the whole corn to produce corn meal. The corn grain process generally includes the steps of cracking corn grain having a total oil content of from about 3% by weight to about 6% by weight and extracting a corn oil from the cracked corn grain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: Renessen LLC
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Neal Torrey Jakel
  • Patent number: 6610867
    Abstract: Corn oil and corn meal obtained from corn are included in useful products. The corn oil is extracted from the corn to form the corn meal. The corn grain process generally includes the steps of cracking corn grain having a total oil content of from about 3% by weight to about 30% by weight and extracting a corn oil from the cracked corn grain. The corn oil is useful for making nutritionally enhanced edible oil or cooking oil, lubricants, biodiesel, fuel, cosmetics and oil-based or oil-containing chemical products. The extracted corn meal is useful for making enhanced animal feed rations, snack food, blended food products, cosmetics, and fermentation broth additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignees: Renessen LLC, Cargill, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal T. Jakel, Doug Kotowski, Joel Ingvalson, Michael J. Beaver, James F. Ulrich, Francis Amore, Michael J. Tupy, Eugene J. Fox, Alexander Patist, Patrick Adu-Peasah
  • Publication number: 20030083512
    Abstract: Corn oil and corn meal obtained from corn are included in useful products. The corn oil is extracted from the corn to form the corn meal. The corn grain process generally includes the steps of cracking corn grain having a total oil content of from about 3% by weight to about 30% by weight and extracting a corn oil from the cracked corn grain. The corn oil is useful for making nutritionally enhanced edible oil or cooking oil, lubricants, biodiesel, fuel, cosmetics and oil-based or oil-containing chemical products. The extracted corn meal is useful for making enhanced animal feed rations, snack food, blended food products, cosmetics, and fermentation broth additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Renessen, LLC.
    Inventors: Neal T. Jakel, Doug Kotowski, Joel Ingvalson, Michael J. Beaver, James F. Ulrich, Francis Amore, Michael J. Tupy, Eugene J. Fox, Alexander Patist
  • Publication number: 20020193617
    Abstract: Corn oil and corn meal obtained from high oil corn are included in useful products. The corn oil is extracted from the high oil corn to form the corn meal. The corn oil generally comprises levels of nutrients not found in commercially available corn oils, since most or all of the corn grain, rather than just the germ, is exposed to the extraction process. The corn grain generally includes the steps of flaking corn grain having a total oil content of at least about 6 wt. % and extracting a corn oil from the flaked corn grain. The corn oil is useful for making nutritionally enhanced edible oil or cooking oil, lubricants, biodiesel, fuel, cosmetics and oil-based or oil-containing chemical products. The extracted corn meal is useful for making enhanced animal feed rations, snack food, blended food products, cosmetics, and fermentation broth additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Neal T. Jakel, Troy T. Lohrmann, Douglas C. Kotowski, Patrick Adu-Peasah, Joel Ingvalson, Brent Aufdembrink, Michael J. Tupy, Eugene J. Fox, Michael J. Beaver, Francis Amore, Stephan C. Anderson, Beth R. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20020151733
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing and processing corn oil and corn meal obtained from whole corn are included in useful products. The corn oil is extracted from the whole corn to form the corn meal. The corn oil generally comprises levels of nutrients not found in commercially available corn oils, since most or all of the corn grain, rather than just the germ, is exposed to the extraction process. The corn grain generally includes the steps of flaking corn grain having a total oil content of from about 3% to about 6% and extracting a corn oil from the flaked corn grain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: Renessen LLC
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Neal T. Jakel, Joel Ingvalson, Micheal J. Tupy, Douglas C. Kotowski, Francis Amore, Michael J. Beaver, Eugene J. Fox, Alexander Patist, Troy T. Lohrmann
  • Patent number: 6388110
    Abstract: A commercial-scale method for processing corn grain includes the steps of flaking corn grain having a total oil content of at least about 8% and extracting a corn oil from the flaked corn grain. Such a method can be effectuated by processing the high oil corn grain using equipment typically used to process soybeans and other similar oilseed types. In this way, processing plants that flake oilseeds can be used to extract corn oil from corn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Stephan C. Anderson, Ian Purtle, Gary Seymour
  • Patent number: 6313328
    Abstract: A commercial-scale method for processing corn grain includes the steps of flaking corn grain having a total oil content of at least about 8% and extracting a corn oil from the flaked corn grain. Such a method can be effectuated by processing the high oil corn grain using methods and equipment typically used to process soybeans and other similar oilseed types. In this way, processing plants that flake oilseeds can be used to extract corn oil from corn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Stephan C. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20010014750
    Abstract: A commercial-scale method for processing corn grain includes the steps of flaking corn grain having a total oil content of at least about 8% and extracting a corn oil from the flaked corn grain. Such a method can be effectuated by processing the high oil corn grain using methods and equipment typically used to process soybeans and other similar oilseed types. In this way, processing plants that flake oilseeds can be used to extract corn oil from corn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: Cargill, Incorporated a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Stephan C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6236014
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding/plasma power is disclosed. The welding/plasma power source includes an input stage, an output stage, and an energy storage device such as a capacitor. The input stage is configured to receive an ac input signal and to rectify the ac input signal to provide a rectified intermediate signal. The input stage is further configured to provide a dc voltage signal across a dc bus. The output stage is disposed to receive the dc voltage signal and is configured to provide an available output power signal suitable for welding, plasma cutting and induction heating applications. The energy storage device is connected to provide sufficient stored energy to the dc bus to allow the welding/plasma power source to run off of a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Ulrich