Patents by Inventor John D. Ray

John D. Ray 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: 6386514
    Abstract: A portable winch for mounting on a hitch component of a vehicle comprises a cable reel retractor portion and a vehicle attachment portion. The vehicle attachment portion may be a ball hitch receptor, or it may comprise a drawbar insertable into the receiver portion of a hitch. An electrical connector insertable in an existing vehicle receptacle provides power to a gear motor of the retractor portion through a extend/retract switch. One embodiment provides electrical power for the gear motor from a cigarette lighter of the vehicle. Another embodiment provides electrical power for the gear motor from a trailer lighting connector of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: John D. Ray
  • Patent number: 5937616
    Abstract: A machine for capping a tray of specimen vials comprises two driven rollers, a table, and a frame. The tray of vials having caps set in the vials but not fully inserted in fed into the entrance end of the machine. A first driven roller engages the caps, inserting the caps to a first inserted position and driving the tray to the second driven roller. The second driven roller engages the caps in the first inserted position, inserting the caps to a fully inserted position and driving the tray to the exit end of the machine. The machine may be made from a wood planer by disabling the rotating blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: John D. Ray
  • Patent number: 5501981
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the measurement of sulfur compounds is described. The system comprises a dual burner assembly for the conversion of sulfur-containing compounds to form sulfur monoxide and subsequent detection of sulfur monoxide by ozone-induced chemiluminescence. The dual burner assembly also provides for the conversion of hydrocarbons and other chemical constituents of the sample to simple molecules that do not interfere in the formation or detection of sulfur monoxide. The dual burner assembly eliminates the interference observed in the measurement of sulfur compounds from the sample matrix using flame-based or single burner devices for the production of sulfur monoxide and detection by ozone-induced chemiluminescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Sievers Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Ray, Neil Johansen