Patents by Inventor James R. Allen
James R. Allen 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: 9383341Abstract: The present invention is a wood grading apparatus including a robust “push” solenoid as a hammer means for impacting a lumber specimen under test. A conventional solenoid coil with stationary magnetic iron pole pieces is combined with a bimetallic armature including a magnetic portion and a non-magnetic portion; said armature is of uniform cross section through the solenoid coil. A magnetic steel portion of said armature is fastened to a nonmagnetic steel portion thereof, whereby the magnetic field may act upon the magnetic portion of said armature and drive said nonmagnetic portion in an outward direction whereby impact or striking action is achieved. The present invention includes said solenoid in a wood grading apparatus whereby physical properties of wood are measured in a conveyor line setting and wood grading is affected by combining sonic velocity and density measurements to determine the modulus of elasticity of the wood object.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2013Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: METRIGUARD INC.Inventors: James D. Logan, James R. Allen, Harry E. Moore, Dean A. Nelson, Timothy T. Meekhof, Peter A. Siebold, Ryan D. Baldwin, Jean M. Logan
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Patent number: 9340948Abstract: A controlled pressure release vault panel assembly is capable of functioning as a second, or auxiliary, relief port to allow the escape of fluid from the vault in the event of pressure build-up inside the vault or in an explosion event. The vault panel assembly may define an opening that includes a manhole cover assembly. The manhole cover assembly may also be vented, and may function as a primary vent. The vault panel assembly may include a retention assembly extending from the vault panel underneath a portion of the vault, enabling a limited range of motion of the vault panel for the escape of fluid and allowing the reseating of the vault pane on the vault once the pressure inside the vault approaches ambient pressures.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2014Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: EJ USA, Inc.Inventors: James R. Allen, Jeremy I. Johnson, Kevin J. Wright, Dean W. Reynolds
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Publication number: 20160097181Abstract: A controlled pressure release vault panel assembly is capable of functioning as a second, or auxiliary, relief port to allow the escape of fluid from the vault in the event of pressure build-up inside the vault or in an explosion event. The vault panel assembly may define an opening that includes a manhole cover assembly. The manhole cover assembly may also be vented, and may function as a primary vent. The vault panel assembly may include a retention assembly extending from the vault panel underneath a portion of the vault, enabling a limited range of motion of the vault panel for the escape of fluid and allowing the reseating of the vault pane on the vault once the pressure inside the vault approaches ambient pressures.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2014Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: James R. Allen, Jeremy I. Johnson, Kevin J. Wright, Dean W. Reynolds
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Publication number: 20150247825Abstract: The present invention is a wood grading apparatus including a robust “push” solenoid as a hammer means for impacting a lumber specimen under test. A conventional solenoid coil with stationary magnetic iron pole pieces is combined with a bimetallic armature including a magnetic portion and a non-magnetic portion; said armature is of uniform cross section through the solenoid coil. A magnetic steel portion of said armature is fastened to a nonmagnetic steel portion thereof, whereby the magnetic field may act upon the magnetic portion of said armature and drive said nonmagnetic portion in an outward direction whereby impact or striking action is achieved. The present invention includes said solenoid in a wood grading apparatus whereby physical properties of wood are measured in a conveyor line setting and wood grading is affected by combining sonic velocity and density measurements to determine the modulus of elasticity of the wood object.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2013Publication date: September 3, 2015Applicant: METRIGUARD INC.Inventors: James D. Logan, James R. Allen, Harry E. Moore, Dean A. Nelson, Timothy T. Meekhof, Peter A. Siebold, Ryan D. Baldwin, Jean M. Logan
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Patent number: 9004810Abstract: A manhole cover assembly configured to behave as a relief valve in an explosion event, opening so that fluid, such as air or explosive gas, may vent from an underground area. The manhole cover assembly may include a manhole cover and a frame, and may be configured to limit movement of the manhole cover with respect to the frame in response to increased pressure on the manhole cover. In one embodiment, the manhole cover may include legs that are configured to enable a range of movement of a portion of the cover such that the cover can be unseated at an angle with respect to the frame to allow fluids to escape from the underground area.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2014Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: EJ USA, Inc.Inventors: Dean W. Reynolds, James R. Allen, Jeremy I. Johnson
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Publication number: 20140334876Abstract: A manhole cover assembly configured to behave as a relief valve in an explosion event, opening so that fluid, such as air or explosive gas, may vent from an underground area. The manhole cover assembly may include a manhole cover and a frame, and may be configured to limit movement of the manhole cover with respect to the frame in response to increased pressure on the manhole cover. In one embodiment, the manhole cover may include legs that are configured to enable a range of movement of a portion of the cover such that the cover can be unseated at an angle with respect to the frame to allow fluids to escape from the underground area.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Inventors: Dean W. Reynolds, James R. Allen, Jeremy I. Johnson
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Patent number: 8784000Abstract: A manhole cover assembly configured to behave as a relief valve in an explosion event, opening so that fluid, such as air or explosive gas, may vent from an underground area. The manhole cover assembly may include a manhole cover and a frame, and may be configured to limit movement of the manhole cover with respect to the frame in response to increased pressure on the manhole cover. In one embodiment, the manhole cover may include legs having angled surfaces adapted to substantially center or guide the manhole cover in the frame while the manhole cover displaces to release pressure. In another embodiment, one or more legs slidable within the manhole cover to enable configuring the manhole cover between a restraint mode and a removal mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: EJ USA, Inc.Inventors: Dean W. Reynolds, James R. Allen, Jeremy I. Johnson
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Publication number: 20140169876Abstract: A manhole cover assembly configured to behave as a relief valve in an explosion event, opening so that fluid, such as air or explosive gas, may vent from an underground area. The manhole cover assembly may include a manhole cover and a frame, and may be configured to limit movement of the manhole cover with respect to the frame in response to increased pressure on the manhole cover. In one embodiment, the manhole cover may include legs having angled surfaces adapted to substantially center or guide the manhole cover in the frame while the manhole cover displaces to release pressure. In another embodiment, one or more legs slidable within the manhole cover to enable configuring the manhole cover between a restraint mode and a removal mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Inventors: Dean W. Reynolds, James R. Allen, Jeremy I. Johnson
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Patent number: 7974803Abstract: This improved method of calibrating wood testing machines includes improved test bars, shim and software to direct the operator through the steps of calibration, storing interim results and calculating new calibration factors based on values read when the test bars are placed in the wood testing machine. This method avoids a number of problems in previous methods and apparatus. It properly corrects for changes in deflection in the measurement apparatus and changes in straightness of the test bars. The result is a more stable and reliable calibration that is referenced to precise measurement of the EI product for the test bar.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Metriguard IncInventors: James D. Logan, James R Allen, Tony L. Lee
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Publication number: 20100036633Abstract: This improved method of calibrating wood testing machines includes improved test bars, shim and software to direct the operator through the steps of calibration, storing interim results and calculating new calibration factors based on values read when the test bars are placed in the wood testing machine. This method avoids a number of problems in previous methods and apparatus. It properly corrects for changes in deflection in the measurement apparatus and changes in straightness of the test bars. The result is a more stable and reliable calibration that is referenced to precise measurement of the EI product for the test bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2009Publication date: February 11, 2010Applicant: Metriguard Inc.Inventors: James D. Logan, James R. Allen, Tony L. Lee
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Patent number: 5654643Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for obtaining information about the real and imaginary parts of permittivity in dielectric materials and relating this information to other properties of the materials.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1994Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Metriguard Inc.Inventors: Friend K. Bechtel, James R. Allen, Daniel A. Uskoski
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Patent number: 5503024Abstract: Improved apparatus is described for measuring bending stiffness of dimension lumber. Innovative details are introduced that make the measurement more accurate and repeatable as well as making the apparatus simpler, more robust and easier to maintain than the prior art.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1994Date of Patent: April 2, 1996Assignee: Metriguard Inc.Inventors: Friend K. Bechtel, Ronnie K. Byers, James D. Logan, James R. Allen, Michael G. Strevy, Daniel A. Uskoski
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Patent number: 5434975Abstract: To overcome the lack of support in time-sharing and uniprocessor operating systems such as the UNIX.RTM. operating system for real-time and multiprocessor applications, there is provided an asynchronous inter-process communications capability that can be grafted onto the operating systems. Communicating processes (100, 103) communicate via datagram messages through logical asynchronous inter-process communications links (110) each having a synchronous segment (101) and an asynchronous segment (102). The links include a message-serving hub process (11) that communicates in a synchronous, buffer (302) and semaphore (300)-based, manner with processes (100) that are message senders, and communicates in an asynchronous, queue (602) and signals (600)-based, manner with processes (103) that are message destinations. The hub process may be implemented at any process level of the operating system.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1992Date of Patent: July 18, 1995Assignee: AT&T Corp.Inventor: James R. Allen
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Patent number: 5394097Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for obtaining information about the real and imaginary parts of permittivity in dielectric materials and relating this information to other properties of the materials.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1992Date of Patent: February 28, 1995Inventors: Friend K. Bechtel, James R. Allen, Daniel A. Uskoski
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Patent number: 5360292Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing mud from around and inside of a casing is shown and described. Examples of such casings include piles of offshore oil production platforms. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a submersible pump having a propeller and coupled to several nozzles is lowered to a position adjacent the mud to be removed. A volume of water is forced through the nozzles against the mud, the action of which, together with the propeller, serves to dilute and break up the mud. The submersible pump then forces the mud and water upward through a flexible tube to be discharged into open water.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1993Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: James R. Allen, Alton J. LaLande
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Patent number: 5130705Abstract: Self-contained, preprogrammable downhole well data recorder and method of use thereof, the recorder having the external configuration of a conventional sidepocket gas lift valve and being placeable and retrievable from a conventional gas lift sidepocket mandrel by a conventional valve positioning tool. The recorder monitors and collects fluid dynamics data downhole during well operations, such as stimulation, production and multi-zone well completions, without impeding fluid flow. Programming can involve selective actuation of one or more of the sensors intermittently for at least thirty days. After retrieval of the recorder, fluid dynamics data stored in memory is outputted to external equipment for analysis in a manner known per se.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1990Date of Patent: July 14, 1992Assignee: Petroleum Reservoir Data, Inc.Inventors: James R. Allen, Fred V. Pomeroy
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Patent number: 4972154Abstract: Wood grain angle information is detected electronically by use of a sensor having a common electrode and a plurality of electrodes spaced from the common electrode and arranged angularly about a sensor axis. The common electrode can serve as a sense electrode or as a drive electrode for the remaining angularly spaced electrodes. By modulating applied drive signals and demodulating the sensed signals that result from capacitive coupling of an adjacent wood specimen, values that are a function of wood grain angle are identified.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1989Date of Patent: November 20, 1990Assignee: Metriguard, IncInventors: Friend K. Bechtel, James R. Allen, James D. Logan
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Patent number: 4926350Abstract: A non-destructive testing system for lumber involves measurement of grain angle about a board and transformation of the measured grain angle values to extract features indicative of knot identification, grain angle perturbations or strength of the board. Individual boards can then be processed for grading or sorting purposes as a function of the extracted features. Specific features utilized for knot identification are curl, divergence, and novel transformations termed gradient, edges and knots, as well as various pattern matching techniques. Strength estimation involves transformations pertaining to failure distance, which is a function of board tensile strength. Failure distance can be computed by an ellipsoidal model, a search model or a tracks model. When utilized in conjunction with conventional bending test procedures, highly accurate strength estimation is achieved by the described system.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1987Date of Patent: May 15, 1990Assignee: Metriguard, Inc.Inventors: Friend K. Bechtel, James R. Allen
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Patent number: 4625989Abstract: A drawbar pickup system includes a drawbar in the form of a shaft rotatably coupled between aft ends of a pair of draft links, and a latch fixed to the shaft to define an aperture therebetween. A hook is fixed to an implement tongue so that it opens towards the drawbar. The drawbar is rotatable to a position wherein the hook can be inserted into and removed from the aperture and to a position wherein the latch member engages the bight portion of the hook to prevent separation of the hook from the drawbar. A locking mechanism is operable to rotate the drawbar and to releasably hold the drawbar in its positions.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1985Date of Patent: December 2, 1986Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: James R. Allen, William P. Wohlford, Bernard B. Poore
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Patent number: 4579363Abstract: A powered vacuum is mounted between a tractor carrying a rotary mower and a trailer carrying a receptacle for moving material from the mower discharge to the receptacle. A mounting frame carries a blower which may include either an internal combustion engine or gearbox and a fan coupled directly to the engine or gearbox. The mounting frame is mounted to the tractor by connections defining three coplanar ball joints located to permit relative pitch and roll between the tractor and trailer. The mounting frame is easily releasably secured to the tongue of the trailer. The mounting frame is articulated between its opposite ends for movement about a tight vertical axis. The mounting frame, in one form, defines a receptacle for receiving a support member of a wheeled dolly for supporting the powered vacuum when the mounting frame is disconnected from the tractor and trailer, and in another form includes retractable wheels which may be selectively placed in an operative condition for supporting the vacuum.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1984Date of Patent: April 1, 1986Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: James R. Allen, Jack C. Wiley