Patents by Inventor Mark D. Caplan
Mark D. Caplan 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: 10041505Abstract: An airflow assembly includes a fan, a shroud, a plurality of ribs, and a fan support. The fan has a number of fan blades. The shroud includes (i) a plenum defining a plenum opening located adjacent to the number of fan blades, and (ii) a barrel extending from the plenum so as to surround the plenum opening. The plenum further defines at least one airflow opening spaced apart from the plenum opening. Each of the plurality of ribs extends inwardly from the barrel. The fan support is attached to the plurality of ribs and is configured to support the fan. The at least one airflow opening is not an attachment structure or a guiding structure, is not configured to receive a fastening member, and does not function as a water drain.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignees: Robert Bosch LLC, Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: William M. Stevens, Mark D. Caplan, Yoonshik Shin, Robert J. Van Houten
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Patent number: 9157455Abstract: An airflow assembly, includes a plenum, a barrel, a fan support, a fan assembly, and a plurality of ribs. The plenum includes an opening structure defining a plenum opening. The barrel extends in a downstream direction from the opening structure, and defines a barrel space and a downstream edge. The fan support is at least partially positioned within the barrel space. The fan assembly is supported by the fan support and includes (i) a motor and (ii) a blade assembly configured to rotate about an axis. Each of the ribs extends between (i) the opening structure or the barrel and (ii) the fan support. The downstream direction is parallel to the axis. An upstream direction is opposite of the downstream direction and parallel to the axis. A plane intersects the axis and is perpendicular to the axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Mark L. Bilodeau, Mark D. Caplan, F. Raymond Cote, Robert J. Van Houten
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Publication number: 20140056701Abstract: A fan shroud has a panel including a first surface and a second surface substantially opposite the first surface. A first rib extends substantially perpendicularly from the first surface, and the first rib has an area of discontinuity where a height of the first rib is reduced. A second rib extends substantially perpendicularly from the second surface, and the second rib is substantially aligned with the first rib and positioned substantially opposite the area of discontinuity of the first rib.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Inventors: Mark D. Caplan, F. Raymond Cote, Edward H. Gray
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Publication number: 20120321474Abstract: An airflow assembly includes a fan, a shroud, a plurality of ribs, and a fan support. The fan has a number of fan blades. The shroud includes (i) a plenum defining a plenum opening located adjacent to the number of fan blades, and (ii) a barrel extending from the plenum so as to surround the plenum opening. The plenum further defines at least one airflow opening spaced apart from the plenum opening. Each of the plurality of ribs extends inwardly from the barrel. The fan support is attached to the plurality of ribs and is configured to support the fan. The at least one airflow opening is not an attachment structure or a guiding structure, is not configured to receive a fastening member, and does not function as a water drain.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch LLCInventors: William M. Stevens, Mark D. Caplan, Yoon Shin Shik, Robert J. Van Houten
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Publication number: 20120301329Abstract: An airflow assembly, includes a plenum, a barrel, a fan support, a fan assembly, and a plurality of ribs. The plenum includes an opening structure defining a plenum opening. The barrel extends in a downstream direction from the opening structure, and defines a barrel space and a downstream edge. The fan support is at least partially positioned within the barrel space. The fan assembly is supported by the fan support and includes (i) a motor and (ii) a blade assembly configured to rotate about an axis. Each of the ribs extends between (i) the opening structure or the barrel and (ii) the fan support. The downstream direction is parallel to the axis. An upstream direction is opposite of the downstream direction and parallel to the axis. A plane intersects the axis and is perpendicular to the axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Robert Bosch LLCInventors: Mark L. Bilodeau, Mark D. Caplan, F. Raymond Cote, Robert J. Van Houten
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Patent number: 8091177Abstract: A fan includes a hub and blades. A first edge of each blade is proximate an open end of the hub. A first rib is coupled to the hub and substantially aligned with a first plane intersecting the central axis and an intersection of the first edge of the first blade with the hub. The first plane is angularly spaced from a reference plane intersecting the central axis and an intersection of the first edge of the second blade with the hub. An angular spacing between the first plane and the reference plane defines one sector. A second rib is aligned with a second plane angularly positioned between the first plane and the reference plane at a location less than or equal to about (1/nR?0.05) sectors from the first plane, in which nR equals the number of ribs divided by the number of blades.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: F. Raymond Coté, Mark D. Caplan, Sebastian Hansen
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Publication number: 20110280729Abstract: A fan includes a hub and blades. A first edge of each blade is proximate an open end of the hub. A first rib is coupled to the hub and substantially aligned with a first plane intersecting the central axis and an intersection of the first edge of the first blade with the hub. The first plane is angularly spaced from a reference plane intersecting the central axis and an intersection of the first edge of the second blade with the hub. An angular spacing between the first plane and the reference plane defines one sector. A second rib is aligned with a second plane angularly positioned between the first plane and the reference plane at a location less than or equal to about (1/nR?0.05) sectors from the first plane, in which nR equals the number of ribs divided by the number of blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: F. Raymond Coté, Mark D. Caplan, Sebastian Hansen
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Patent number: 7585159Abstract: The present invention provides an automotive engine-cooling fan assembly including a motor having a driveshaft defining a central axis, and a fan driven by the motor. The fan includes an inner hub portion coupled to the driveshaft, and an outer hub portion coupled to the inner hub portion. The outer hub portion is coupled to a plurality of radially-extending blades. The fan also includes a plurality of vibration isolation members interconnecting the inner hub portion and the outer hub portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2004Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Mark D. Caplan, Wolfgang Kehrer, Martin G. Yapp
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Publication number: 20040223845Abstract: The present invention provides an automotive engine-cooling fan assembly including a motor having a driveshaft defining a central axis, and a fan driven by the motor. The fan includes an inner hub portion coupled to the driveshaft, and an outer hub portion coupled to the inner hub portion. The outer hub portion is coupled to a plurality of radially-extending blades. The fan also includes a plurality of vibration isolation members interconnecting the inner hub portion and the outer hub portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2004Publication date: November 11, 2004Applicant: Robert Bosch CorporationInventors: Mark D. Caplan, Wolfgang Kehrer, Martin G. Yapp