Patents by Inventor Kirk W. Wolfgram

Kirk W. Wolfgram 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).

  • Publication number: 20140363532
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing multiple color three-dimensional (3D) objects using an additive extrusion type manufacturing build process where the multiple color three-dimensional (3D) object is built layer by layer using a single extrusion nozzle in contact or close proximity to each build layer of the 3D object being manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Kirk W. Wolfgram
  • Patent number: 7944669
    Abstract: A lightning protection circuit for electric fence energizers used with electric fencing systems is provided. The circuit includes a protective combination having at least two electrical components connected in series. The protective combination allows induced voltage from lightning strikes to be effectively spread across a first of the electrical components and a switch of the fence energizer, so as to limit peak levels of current drawn to a second of the electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Zareba Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk W. Wolfgram
  • Patent number: 7733208
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high voltage, step-up, high current DC pulse type transformer with increased coupling coefficient between the primary and secondary windings through close proximity of the primary winding turns and secondary winding turns by means of transformer construction that provides a plurality of winding bays for a high voltage secondary winding physically located in close proximity to the primary winding. The plurality of winding bays for the secondary winding are provided by means of a frame and separate thin insulation layer where the thin insulation layer provides the barrel for all or part of the secondary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Wolfgram Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk W. Wolfgram
  • Publication number: 20090261934
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high voltage, step-up, high current DC pulse type transformer with increased coupling coefficient between the primary and secondary windings through close proximity of the primary winding turns and secondary winding turns by means of transformer construction that provides a plurality of winding bays for a high voltage secondary winding physically located in close proximity to the primary winding. The plurality of winding bays for the secondary winding are provided by means of a frame and separate thin insulation layer where the thin insulation layer provides the barrel for all or part of the secondary winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Wolfgram Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk W. Wolfgram
  • Patent number: 7543406
    Abstract: A single use, reusable or disposable, animal trap suitable for trapping rodents, having a stable enclosure, an unstable internal floor that tilts to dose the trap, a locking mechanism to keep trap closed, and a release for said locking mechanism, where both the locking mechanism and release mechanism are unaffected by gravity once the trap has tripped, regardless of the orientation of the trap relative to gravity. The floor of the trap tilts back and forth allowing the animal to enter and leave the trap (each time leaving the trap in the open position), until the animal enters the trap far enough such that the floor tilts to one end closing the opening in the trap where the floor is then locked into the closed (or trapped) position with the animal inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Wolfgram Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk W. Wolfgram
  • Publication number: 20070277426
    Abstract: A single use, reusable or disposable, animal trap suitable for trapping rodents, having a stable enclosure, an unstable internal floor that tilts to dose the trap, a locking mechanism to keep trap closed, and a release for said locking mechanism, where both the locking mechanism and release mechanism are unaffected by gravity once the trap has tripped, regardless of the orientation of the trap relative to gravity. The floor of the trap tilts back and forth allowing the animal to enter and leave the trap (each time leaving the trap in the open position), until the animal enters the trap far enough such that the floor tilts to one end closing the opening in the trap where the floor is then locked into the closed (or trapped) position with the animal inside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: Wolfgram Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk W. Wolfgram
  • Patent number: 7191735
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high voltage pulse generator used for deterring animals where the high voltage pulses are delivered to the animal through an electrical conductor that lays directly on the ground and is not insulated from the underlying ground system. The invention's high voltage pulse generator has a predetermined output impedance that is significantly lower than the impedance of an animal that may contact either the device's output or a conductor laying on the ground that is connected to the devices output. The invention's high voltage pulse generator also has a predetermined output impedance that is lower than the impedance of extremely long conductors in contact with the underlying ground system. This significantly low output impedance allows the device to deliver maximum output energy to the conductor in contact with the underlying ground system while maintaining high voltage and adequate energy levels to deliver an effective shock for deterring animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Wolfgram Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk W. Wolfgram
  • Patent number: 7148779
    Abstract: The present invention provides a low duty cycle, high current DC pulse type transformer with increased coupling coefficient between the primary and secondary windings by changing the proximity of the primary windings to the secondary windings through a plurality of primary windings separated by layers of secondary windings thus reducing the average distance between the primary windings and secondary windings. In addition to the increased coupling coefficient, the invention provides a reduction in electrical potential between primary windings and secondary windings through an electrical connection between the primary winding and a tap within the secondary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Wolfgram Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk W. Wolfgram
  • Patent number: 6948452
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high voltage pulse generator used for deterring animals where the high voltage pulses are delivered to the animal through an electrical conductor that lays directly on the ground and is not insulated from the underlying ground system. The invention's high voltage pulse generator has a predetermined output impedance that is significantly lower than the impedance of an animal that may contact either the device's output or a conductor laying on the ground that is connected to the devices output. The invention's high voltage pulse generator also has a predetermined output impedance that is lower than the impedance of the conductor in contact with the underlying ground system. This significantly low output impedance allows the device to deliver maximum output energy to the conductor in contact with the underlying ground system while maintaining high voltage and adequate energy levels to deliver an effective shock for deterring animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Wolfgram Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk W. Wolfgram
  • Patent number: 6822549
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high peak current, low duty cycle, pulse type transformer with two methods of increasing the coupling coefficient between the primary and secondary windings. The first method provides an increased coupling coefficient for a pulse type transformer of a coreless design by increasing the number of secondary turns in proximity to a number of primary turns by providing multiple primary windings and multiple secondary windings configured in layers or winding bays in an alternating secondary, primary, secondary, primary configuration. The second method provides an increased coupling coefficient for a pulse type transformer with a magnetic core that utilizes a non-uniform cross-sectional area along the magnetic path where the cross-sectional area is increased within the primary and secondary windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Wolfgram Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk W. Wolfgram
  • Publication number: 20040124237
    Abstract: An electrical discharge stock prod having a circuit that prolongs battery life by monitoring power input and modifying the prod discharge characteristics. The circuit allows the prod to deliver a consistent voltage level to discharge electrodes, even though the power sources may vary. Preferably, the circuit is operated by a micro-controller. Additionally, by virtue of an improved transformer configuration (which lowers the voltage potential between the primary and secondary cores) and strategically placed polypropylene (which reduces carbon arcing) and increased isolation between primary and secondary windings within the transformer, safety of the prod is substantially enhanced. Preferably, the voltage to the discharge electrodes of the prod can be infinitely adjusted within a predetermined range of voltages, energies, and/or pulse rates to allow the prod to be effectively used on subjects having different physical parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Miller Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bros, Kirk W. Wolfgram, Peter B. Madson
  • Publication number: 20030102948
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high peak current, low duty cycle, pulse type transformer with two methods of increasing the coupling coefficient between the primary and secondary windings. The first method provides an increased coupling coefficient for a pulse type transformer of a coreless design by increasing the number of secondary turns in proximity to a number of primary turns by providing multiple primary windings and multiple secondary windings configured in layers or winding bays in an alternating secondary, primary, secondary, primary configuration. The second method provides an increased coupling coefficient for a pulse type transformer with a magnetic core that utilizes a non-uniform cross-sectional area along the magnetic path where the cross-sectional area is increased within the primary and secondary windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventor: Kirk W. Wolfgram
  • Patent number: 5877949
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electric fence controller for delivering an electrical shock to a load when the load simultaneously contacts a fence terminal and the underlying ground. In one embodiment, the controller comprises an AC power supply and a fence terminal positioned above underlying ground. The controller also contains a voltage step-up circuit coupled to the AC power supply for charging at least one multiplier unit and for producing at the fence terminal a substantially increased DC voltage. The at least one multiplier unit discharges as an electric shock to the load when the load contacts the fence terminal and the underlying ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Waters Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk W. Wolfgram, Gerald D. Wyatt
  • Patent number: 5790023
    Abstract: An electric fence controller and method of controlling the energization of an electric fence. The controller includes a digital timing circuit which generates a digital signal to control the activation of a switching circuit for applying energy from an external power source across the primary winding of a transformer. The power source may be an alternating current source, the cycles of which are located by the timing circuit which activates the switching circuit after a selected number of cycles are counted driving an off-time period. Alternatively, the power source may be a direct current source and the timing circuit may include an oscillator and a counter for counting the number of oscillations and generating a digital signal which activates the switching circuit during an on-time period corresponding to a first selected number of oscillations, the switching circuit being inactive during an off-time period corresponding to a second selected number of oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Waters Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk W. Wolfgram, Danny M. Ondler, Gerald D. Wyatt