Patents by Inventor Kim Ferrara
Kim Ferrara 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: 11946915Abstract: A chromatography system has a cartridge adapter that is detachably attachable to enable a chromatography cartridge to be quickly interchanged. Chromatography cartridges are configured with threads for coupling to a corresponding interchangeable coupling component having matching threads. The interchangeable coupling component may be secured to the chromatography system by a coupling retainer. A coupling retainer may have a keyway that is configured for quick interchanging of the interchangeable coupling components. The interchangeable coupling component may have a pair of parallel sides that align with a slot of the keyway to secure the interchangeable coupling components to the coupling retainer. An inlet nipple of the chromatography cartridge may extend through an opening in the coupling components and couple to an inlet conduit for sample gas. Analyte gas may flow back to the chromatography system for detection and collection.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Supercritical Fluid Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Curtis Ebersold, Kim Ferrara
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Patent number: 11913685Abstract: Provided is a chiller and system that may be utilized in a supercritical fluid chromatography method, wherein a non-polar solvent may replace a portion or all of a polar solvent for the purpose of separating or extracting desired sample molecules from a combined sample/solvent stream. The system may reduce the amount of polar solvent necessary for chromatographic separation and/or extraction of desired samples. The system may incorporate a supercritical fluid chiller, a supercritical fluid pressure-equalizing vessel and a supercritical fluid cyclonic separator. The supercritical fluid chiller allows for efficient and consistent pumping of liquid-phase gases employing off-the-shelf HPLC pumps. The pressure equalizing vessel allows the use of off-the-shelf HPLC column cartridges. The system may further incorporate the use of one or more disposable cartridges containing silica gel or other suitable medium.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Supercritical Fluid Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Joseph James, Brian Jeffrey Waibel, Kenneth Richard Krewson, Kim Ferrara, Curtis Ebersold
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Patent number: 11826966Abstract: There is disclosed a method of inserting a reinforcing rod into a hole in a laminated material. The method comprises a feed operation in which a feed clamp clamps a rod whilst moving towards the laminated material to feed an end section of the rod through a guide clamp into a hole in the laminated material. The method further comprises a re-supply operation in which the feed clamp releases the rod and moves relative the rod along a return direction away from the laminated material whilst the guide clamp clamps the rod. A corresponding insertion head for inserting a reinforcing rod, and insertion equipment comprising the insertion head and a controller is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventors: Kim Ferrara, Ralph Douglas Cope, Anthony Dale Johnson
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Patent number: 11680735Abstract: Provided is a chiller and system that may be utilized in a supercritical fluid chromatography method, wherein a non-polar solvent may replace a portion or all of a polar solvent for the purpose of separating or extracting desired sample molecules from a combined sample/solvent stream. The system may reduce the amount of polar solvent necessary for chromatographic separation and/or extraction of desired samples. The system may incorporate a supercritical fluid chiller, a supercritical fluid pressure-equalizing vessel and a supercritical fluid cyclonic separator. The supercritical fluid chiller allows for efficient and consistent pumping of liquid-phase gases employing off-the-shelf HPLC pumps. The pressure equalizing vessel allows the use of off-the-shelf HPLC column cartridges. The system may further incorporate the use of one or more disposable cartridges containing silica gel or other suitable medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Supercritical Fluid Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Joseph James, Brian Jeffrey Waibel, Kenneth Richard Krewson, Kim Ferrara, Curtis Ebersold
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Publication number: 20220168969Abstract: There is disclosed a method of inserting a reinforcing rod into a hole in a laminated material. The method comprises a feed operation in which a feed clamp clamps a rod whilst moving towards the laminated material to feed an end section of the rod through a guide clamp into a hole in the laminated material. The method further comprises a re-supply operation in which the feed clamp releases the rod and moves relative the rod along a return direction away from the laminated material whilst the guide clamp clamps the rod. A corresponding insertion head for inserting a reinforcing rod, and insertion equipment comprising the insertion head and a controller is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2020Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Kim Ferrara, Ralph Douglas Cope, Anthony Dale Johnson
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Publication number: 20220034555Abstract: Provided is a chiller and system that may be utilized in a supercritical fluid chromatography method, wherein a non-polar solvent may replace a portion or all of a polar solvent for the purpose of separating or extracting desired sample molecules from a combined sample/solvent stream. The system may reduce the amount of polar solvent necessary for chromatographic separation and/or extraction of desired samples. The system may incorporate a supercritical fluid chiller, a supercritical fluid pressure-equalizing vessel and a supercritical fluid cyclonic separator. The supercritical fluid chiller allows for efficient and consistent pumping of liquid-phase gases employing off-the-shelf HPLC pumps. The pressure equalizing vessel allows the use of off-the-shelf HPLC column cartridges. The system may further incorporate the use of one or more disposable cartridges containing silica gel or other suitable medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Kenneth Joseph James, Brian Jeffrey Waibel, Kenneth Richard Krewson, Kim Ferrara, Curtis Ebersold
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Publication number: 20210348805Abstract: Provided is a chiller and system that may be utilized in a supercritical fluid chromatography method, wherein a non-polar solvent may replace a portion or all of a polar solvent for the purpose of separating or extracting desired sample molecules from a combined sample/solvent stream. The system may reduce the amount of polar solvent necessary for chromatographic separation and/or extraction of desired samples. The system may incorporate a supercritical fluid chiller, a supercritical fluid pressure-equalizing vessel and a supercritical fluid cyclonic separator. The supercritical fluid chiller allows for efficient and consistent pumping of liquid-phase gases employing off-the-shelf HPLC pumps. The pressure equalizing vessel allows the use of off-the-shelf HPLC column cartridges. The system may further incorporate the use of one or more disposable cartridges containing silica gel or other suitable medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Kenneth Joseph James, Brian Jeffrey Waibel, Kenneth Richard Krewson, Kim Ferrara, Curtis Ebersold
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Patent number: 10765968Abstract: Provided is a supercritical fluid chromatography method, system, and components comprising such a system wherein a non-polar solvent may replace a portion or all of a polar solvent for the purpose of separating or extracting desired sample molecules from a combined sample/solvent stream. The method and system are designed to eliminate or reduce the amount of polar solvent necessary for chromatographic separation and/or extraction of desired samples to less than or equal to twenty percent polar solvent within the total volume concentration of the total solvents used, and the technique may include one or more of a supercritical fluid chiller, a supercritical fluid pressure-equalizing vessel, and a supercritical fluid cyclonic separator. The supercritical fluid chiller and the use of the chiller allow efficient and consistent pumping of liquid-phase gases employing off-the-shelf HPLC pumps in the supercritical chromatography system using liquid-phase gas mobile phase.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Inventors: Kenneth Joseph James, Brian Jeffrey Waibel, Kenneth Richard Krewson, Curtis Ebersold, Kim Ferrara
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Patent number: 10119739Abstract: A hail producing machine includes at least one diffuser for mixing water and carbon dioxide. At least one heat exchanger is in flow communication with the diffuser for receiving the mixture. A refrigeration unit freezes the mixture to form an ice rod in the heat exchanger. The ice rod is ejected from the heat exchanger and is converted into hail stones by a molding station downstream from the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2015Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Inventors: Tracy Dolan, Steven Cope, Jesse Brown, Kim Ferrara
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Publication number: 20180112896Abstract: Provided is a chiller and system that may be utilized in a supercritical fluid chromatography method, wherein a non-polar solvent may replace a portion or all of a polar solvent for the purpose of separating or extracting desired sample molecules from a combined sample/solvent stream. The system may reduce the amount of polar solvent necessary for chromatographic separation and/or extraction of desired samples. The system may incorporate a supercritical fluid chiller, a supercritical fluid pressure-equalizing vessel and a supercritical fluid cyclonic separator. The supercritical fluid chiller allows for efficient and consistent pumping of liquid-phase gases employing off-the-shelf HPLC pumps. The pressure equalizing vessel allows the use of off the shelf HPLC column cartridges. The system may further incorporate the use of one or more disposable cartridges containing silica gel or other suitable medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Kenneth Joseph James, Brian Jeffrey Waibel, Kenneth Richard Krewson, Chinedu David Chikwem, Daniel Alan Brisach, Kim Ferrara, Curtis B. Ebersold
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Publication number: 20170189831Abstract: Provided is a supercritical fluid chromatography method, system, and components comprising such a system wherein a non-polar solvent may replace a portion or all of a polar solvent for the purpose of separating or extracting desired sample molecules from a combined sample/solvent stream. The method and system are designed to eliminate or reduce the amount of polar solvent necessary for chromatographic separation and/or extraction of desired samples to less than or equal to twenty percent polar solvent within the total volume concentration of the total solvents used, and the technique may include one or more of a supercritical fluid chiller, a supercritical fluid pressure-equalizing vessel, and a supercritical fluid cyclonic separator. The supercritical fluid chiller and the use of the chiller allow efficient and consistent pumping of liquid-phase gases employing off-the-shelf HPLC pumps in the supercritical chromatography system using liquid-phase gas mobile phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Kenneth Joseph James, Brian Jeffrey Waibel, Kenneth Richard Krewson, Christopher Joseph McWilliams, Chinedu David Chikwem, Daniel Alan Brisach, Curtis Ebersold, Kim Ferrara
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Publication number: 20170122636Abstract: A hail producing machine includes at least one diffuser for mixing water and carbon dioxide. At least one heat exchanger is in flow communication with the diffuser for receiving the mixture. A refrigeration unit freezes the mixture to form an ice rod in the heat exchanger. The ice rod is ejected from the heat exchanger and is converted into hail stones by a molding station downstream from the heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: Accudyne Systems, Inc.Inventors: Tracy Dolan, Steven Cope, Jesse Brown, Kim Ferrara
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Patent number: 9089465Abstract: A gantry system supports a human user in a harness attached to a carriage on a track. The carriage may comprise a body defining a U-shaped or C-shaped opening sized to receive a cylindrical track, and a pair of wheels attached to the body that roll along a top portion of the track with sufficiently minimal drag to permit the user to move the carriage without assistance. Single track embodiments may have a straight or curved trajectory and may have intersecting track portions with junctions that move between the intersecting track portions. In other embodiments, the carriage traverses a perpendicular track spanning a pair of parallel tracks. The perpendicular track may traverse the parallel tracks with or without motorized assistance. A counterweight system may provide partial weight support for the user. In one embodiment, the tracks are supported by a collapsible free-standing structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF DELAWAREInventors: James Cole Galloway, Ralph D. Cope, Nanette Gopez, Steven A. Cope, Tim Braucht, Kim Ferrara
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Publication number: 20140223661Abstract: A gantry system supports a human user in a harness attached to a carriage on a track. The carriage may comprise a body defining a U-shaped or C-shaped opening sized to receive a cylindrical track, and a pair of wheels attached to the body that roll along a top portion of the track with sufficiently minimal drag to permit the user to move the carriage without assistance. Single track embodiments may have a straight or curved trajectory and may have intersecting track portions with junctions that move between the intersecting track portions. In other embodiments, the carriage traverses a perpendicular track spanning a pair of parallel tracks. The perpendicular track may traverse the parallel tracks with or without motorized assistance. A counterweight system may provide partial weight support for the user. In one embodiment, the tracks are supported by a collapsible free-standing structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: University of DelawareInventors: James Cole Galloway, Ralph D. Cope, Nanette Gopez, Steven A. Cope, Tim Braucht, Kim Ferrara
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Patent number: 7803242Abstract: An apparatus for splicing an elongate multi-layered workpiece includes: (a) drives and guides cooperating to drive the workpiece along a working path; (b) a cutter for severing the workpiece; (c) a layer manipulator for separating layers; (d) an applicator for applying adhesive; and (e) a deflector unit for deflecting the workpiece from the working path. The cutter effects the severing to present first and second workpiece segments. The layer manipulator effects inter-layer separation in one segment to present an interlayer zone in the one segment. A drive inserts the other segment in the interlayer zone. The layer manipulator urges the layers together to capture the other segment within the interlayer zone to establish a multi-layer structure. A drive and at least one of the workpiece deflector unit and the applicator situate the multi-layer structure adjacent to the applicator for finishing the splicing by applying adhesive to the multi-layer structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2007Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Boeing CompanyInventors: Thomas J. Hagman, Ralph D. Cope, Ross Hutter, Steven A. Cope, Kim Ferrara, Nanette M. Gopez, Michael J. Case
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Publication number: 20080308213Abstract: An apparatus for splicing an elongate multi-layered workpiece includes: (a) drives and guides cooperating to drive the workpiece along a working path; (b) a cutter for severing the workpiece; (c) a layer manipulator for separating layers; (d) an applicator for applying adhesive; and (e) a deflector unit for deflecting the workpiece from the working path. The cutter effects the severing to present first and second workpiece segments. The layer manipulator effects inter-layer separation in one segment to present an interlayer zone in the one segment. A drive inserts the other segment in the interlayer zone. The layer manipulator urges the layers together to capture the other segment within the interlayer zone to establish a multi-layer structure. A drive and at least one of the workpiece deflector unit and the applicator situate the multi-layer structure adjacent to the applicator for finishing the splicing by applying adhesive to the multi-layer structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2007Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: Boeing CompanyInventors: Thomas J. Hagman, Ralph D. Cope, Ross Hutter, Steven A. Cope, Kim Ferrara, Nanette M. Gopez, Michael J. Case