Patents by Inventor Jeff Punch

Jeff Punch 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: 11408405
    Abstract: An electromagnetic pump (100). The electromagnetic pump (100) comprises a conduit (101) comprising an inlet (103) and an outlet (105). A first magnetic field generating unit (109) is provided for generating a first magnetic field having a first component with a first direction in the conduit. A second magnetic field generating unit (111) is provided for generating a second magnetic field having a second component with a second direction in the conduit (101), the second direction being substantially opposite to the first direction. A piston member (113) is disposed within the conduit, the piston member (113) being moveable within the conduit (101) under the influence of the first and/or second magnetic fields to pump fluid received from the inlet (103) of the conduit (101) to the outlet (105) of the conduit (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
    Inventors: Eric Dalton, Jeff Punch
  • Publication number: 20220166300
    Abstract: A vibrational energy harvester (100, 200, 300, 400) comprises a first mass (101, 201, 301) comprising a first internal cavity (102, 202, 302) and a second mass (103, 203) disposed within and configured to move within the first internal cavity. Movement of the second mass relative to the first mass induces an electrical current in one of the first mass and the second mass. The vibrational energy harvester also comprises a housing (104, 204, 404) comprising a second internal cavity (105, 405). The first mass is disposed within and configured to move within the second internal cavity. An adjustment mechanism (419) is also provided, configured to adjust a size of the second internal cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Valeria Nico, Jeff Punch
  • Publication number: 20200025188
    Abstract: An electromagnetic pump (100). The electromagnetic pump (100) comprises a conduit (101) comprising an inlet (103) and an outlet (105). A first magnetic field generating unit (109) is provided for generating a first magnetic field having a first component with a first direction in the conduit. A second magnetic field generating unit (111) is provided for generating a second magnetic field having a second component with a second direction in the conduit (101), the second direction being substantially opposite to the first direction. A piston member (113) is disposed within the conduit, the piston member (113) being movable within the conduit (101) under the influence of the first and/or second magnetic fields to pump fluid received from the inlet (103) of the conduit (101) to the outlet (105) of the conduit (101).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Eric Dalton, Jeff Punch
  • Patent number: 8881794
    Abstract: A cooling device (1) comprises a top plate (2), a bottom plate (3), an axial flow inlet (4) in the top plate (2), a rotor support (5) on the top plate (2), and a pump rotor fan (6). The outer dimensions are 40 mm in diameter and 4 mm in height. The internal separation of the plates 2 and 3 is 4 mm. The cooling device (1) has a low profile in scale. Depending on the configuration and on operating parameters steady or unsteady fluid flow vortices can be created in the heat sink. The resulting flow field enhances heat transfer rates locally through impingement cooling and thermal transport by the vortices, whether generated to be steady or unsteady in nature. Also, the vortices drive a secondary flow within the heat sink, effectively creating a pumping mechanism, which further enhances heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: University of Limerick
    Inventors: Edmond Walsh, Ronan Grimes, Jeff Punch
  • Patent number: 8350394
    Abstract: An improved vibrational energy harvester includes a housing and at least one energy transducer. In an embodiment, a second mass element is arranged to receive collisionally transferred kinetic energy from a first mass element when the housing is in an effective state of mechanical agitation, resulting in relative motion between the housing and at least one of the second and further mass elements. The energy transducer is arranged to be activated by the resulting relative motion between the housing and at least one of the second and further mass elements. In a further embodiment, kinetic energy is collisionally transferred in a velocity-multiplying arrangement from the first to a second or further mass element that has a range of linear ballistic motion. The energy transducer is arranged to be activated, at least in part, by the ballistic motion of the second or further mass element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignees: Alcatel Lucent, University of Limerick
    Inventors: Francesco Cottone, Suresh Goyal, Jeff Punch
  • Publication number: 20120250258
    Abstract: A cooling device has a finless heat sink (1) which is rectangular in plan, having two spaced-apart plates (5, 6). A fan impeller (2) and motor (3) are supported between the plates (5, 6) for axial air flow in (7) and radial flow out. The device is placed on an electronic component (4) to be cooled. The component (4) may be an electronic package, for example. The heat sink (1) is manufactured from a single piece of conducting material. There is a rotor support (8) on the top plate (5), supporting a fan rotor (3). The rotor support (8) is in a device inlet for axial flow into the fan impeller (2). There are two opposed side walls (9) interconnecting the plates 5 and 6. The device outlet is the gap between the plates (5, 6) along the open sides. The cooling device is very efficient, compact, and inexpensive to manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
    Inventors: Edmond Walsh, Ronan Grimes, Jeff Punch, Patrick Walsh
  • Publication number: 20120125572
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a low-profile cooling device (100) for applications such as spot cooling. The low-profile cooling device can include a first rotor (102), a second rotor (104), a motor (106) including a drive shaft (108) for driving and rotating each rotor, an upper plate (110), a middle plate (112), and a lower plate (114).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
    Inventors: Edmond Walsh, Patrick Walsh, Jeff Punch, Ronan Grimes
  • Publication number: 20110141693
    Abstract: A cooling device has a finless heat sink (1) which is rectangular in plan, having two spaced-apart plates (5, 6). A fan impeller (2) and motor (3) are supported between the plates (5, 6) for axial air flow in (7) and radial flow out. The device is placed on an electronic component (4) to be cooled. The component (4) may be an electronic package, for example. The heat sink (1) is manufactured from a single piece of conducting material. There is a rotor support (8) on the top plate (5), supporting a fan rotor (3). The rotor support (8) is in a device inlet for axial flow into the fan impeller (2). There are two opposed side walls (9) interconnecting the plates 5 and 6. The device outlet is the gap between the plates (5, 6) along the open sides. The cooling device is very efficient, compact, and inexpensive to manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick A. Walsh, Ronan Grimes, Jeff Punch
  • Publication number: 20110074162
    Abstract: An improved vibrational energy harvester includes a housing and at least one energy transducer. In an embodiment, a second mass element is arranged to receive collisionally transferred kinetic energy from a first mass element when the housing is in an effective state of mechanical agitation, resulting in relative motion between the housing and at least one of the second and further mass elements. The energy transducer is arranged to be activated by the resulting relative motion between the housing and at least one of the second and further mass elements. In a further embodiment, kinetic energy is collisionally transferred in a velocity-multiplying arrangement from the first to a second or further mass element that has a range of linear ballistic motion. The energy transducer is arranged to be activated, at least in part, by the ballistic motion of the second or further mass element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Francesco Cottone, Suresh Goyal, Jeff Punch
  • Publication number: 20090145584
    Abstract: A cooling device (1) comprises a top plate (2), a bottom plate (3), an axial flow inlet (4) in the top plate (2), a rotor support (5) on the top plate (2), and a pump rotor fan (6). The outer dimensions are 40 mm in diameter and 4 mm in height. The internal separation of the plates 2 and 3 is 4 mm. The cooling device (1) has a low profile in scale. Depending on the configuration and on operating parameters steady or unsteady fluid flow vortices can be created in the heat sink. The resulting flow field enhances heat transfer rates locally through impingement cooling and thermal transport by the vortices, whether generated to be steady or unsteady in nature. Also, the vortices drive a secondary flow within the heat sink, effectively creating a pumping mechanism, which further enhances heat transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
    Inventors: Edmond Walsh, Ronan Grimes, Jeff Punch