Patents by Inventor Mark LaCroix

Mark LaCroix 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: 11839206
    Abstract: Systems and methods for extermination of ants may provide for the introduction of powder insecticide directly into an ant colony to deliver maximum saturation throughout the colony chambers or tunnels. Ants within the colony may track through the insecticide, and the insecticide may contaminate the ants' food source within the colony, thereby exterminating the ants with minimal disturbance to people or animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventor: Mark LaCroix
  • Publication number: 20200404900
    Abstract: Systems and methods for extermination of ants may provide for the introduction of powder insecticide directly into an ant colony to deliver maximum saturation throughout the colony chambers or tunnels. Ants within the colony may track through the insecticide, and the insecticide may contaminate the ants' food source within the colony, thereby exterminating the ants with minimal disturbance to people or animals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventor: Mark LaCroix
  • Publication number: 20190176120
    Abstract: A catalytic cracking system having a spray nozzle assembly adapted for more economical manufacture and efficient performance. The spray nozzle assembly includes an elongated pipe formed nozzle body formed of one or more lengths of cylindrical pipes which define a mixing zone and an elongated barrel extension zone that extends through a wall of the riser of the catalytic cracking system. The spray nozzle assembly includes an elongated liquid deflection member supported by the pipe formed nozzle body within the mixing zone which defines an impingement surface against which pressurized liquid hydrocarbon directed through a liquid hydrocarbon inlet impinges and is transversely directed from the impingement surface into the mixing zone for atomization and direction through the barrel extension zone by a stream of pressurized steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventor: Mark Lacroix
  • Patent number: 10201794
    Abstract: A gas assisted liquid spray nozzle assembly having a nozzle body that defines a mixing zone, a liquid inlet communicating with the mixing zone from an end, and a pressurized gas inlet communicating with the mixing chamber from an upstream side. The liquid inlet includes a liquid injector extending into the nozzle body having a liquid inlet extension passage and a plurality of discharge orifices adjacent a closed downstream end which define an impingement surface for directing liquid into the mixing zone in transverse relation to a central axis of the mixing zone. The nozzle body and liquid injector define a plurality of concentrating gas discharge passages at respective locations of the injector liquid discharge orifices for causing individual pressurized gas to directly interact with transversely directed liquid into the mixing zone for enhanced atomization and ultimate discharge from a downstream spray tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Spraying Systems Co.
    Inventor: Mark Lacroix
  • Patent number: 10195619
    Abstract: A gas assisted liquid spray nozzle assembly having a nozzle body that defines a mixing zone, a liquid inlet communicating with the mixing zone from a side thereof, and a pressurized gas inlet communicating with the mixing chamber from an upstream end. The liquid inlet includes a liquid inlet extension and diffuser post extending transversely into the mixing zone having a liquid extension passageway and a closed downstream end that defines an internal impingement surface disposed on a central axis of the mixing zone against which liquid impinges and is transversely directed into the mixing zone for atomization by pressurized gas directed centrally through the mixing zone from the gas inlet. The spray nozzle assembly includes a barrel extension zone downstream of said mixing zone with a spray tip for directing the atomized liquid in a predetermined spray pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Spraying Systems Co.
    Inventor: Mark Lacroix
  • Patent number: 10095830
    Abstract: A gas assisted spray nozzle assembly having a nozzle body in the form of a one piece hollow tubular member, such as a single cylindrical pipe section, which defines a mixing zone and a downstream barrel extension zone. A liquid inlet and an impingement pin are supported by said tubular member in opposed relation to each other at the mixing zone, and pressurized gas inlet is provided at an upstream end of the tubular member. The impingement pin in this case has an impingement surface radially offset from a central axis of the mixing zone on a side opposite the liquid inlet for receiving pressurized liquid and redirecting the liquid toward the central axis for enhanced intermixing with and atomization by the pressurized gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Spraying Systems Co.
    Inventor: Mark Lacroix
  • Patent number: 9925508
    Abstract: A gas assisted spray nozzle assembly having a nozzle body in the form of a hollow tubular member, such as a single cylindrical pipe section, which defines a mixing zone and a downstream barrel extension zone. A liquid inlet and an impingement pin are supported by the tubular member in opposed relation to each other at the mixing zone, and a pressurized gas inlet is provided at an upstream end of the tubular member. An annular dispersion ring is fixedly supported within the tubular member downstream of the impingement pin for defining an annular ledge for directing a peripheral portion of pressurized gas stream and liquid atomized in the mixing zone radially inwardly for facilitating continued intermixing of the liquid and pressurized gas stream as they proceed through the barrel zone for discharge from the spray nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: Spraying Systems Co., Technip Process Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Lacroix, Eusebius Anku Gbordzoe, Chris Robert Santner
  • Publication number: 20160288075
    Abstract: A gas assisted spray nozzle assembly having a nozzle body in the form of a hollow tubular member, such as a single cylindrical pipe section, which defines a mixing zone and a downstream barrel extension zone. A liquid inlet and an impingement pin are supported by said tubular member in opposed relation to each other at the mixing zone, and a pressurized gas inlet is provided at an upstream end of the tubular member. An annular dispersion ring is fixedly supported within said tubular member downstream of said impingement pin for defining an annular ledge for directing a peripheral portion of pressurized gas stream and liquid atomized in the mixing zone radially inwardly for facilitating continued intermixing of the liquid and pressurized gas stream as they proceed through the barrel zone for discharge from the spray nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicants: Spraying Systems Co., Technip Process Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Lacroix, Eusebius Anku Gbordzoe, Chris Robert Santner
  • Publication number: 20160228895
    Abstract: A gas assisted liquid spray nozzle assembly having a nozzle body that defines a mixing zone, a liquid inlet communicating with the mixing zone from a side thereof, and a pressurized gas inlet communicating with the mixing chamber from an upstream end. The liquid inlet includes a liquid inlet extension and diffuser post extending transversely into the mixing zone having a liquid extension passageway and a closed downstream end that defines an internal impingement surface disposed on a central axis of the mixing zone against which liquid impinges and is transversely directed into the mixing zone for atomization by pressurized gas directed centrally through the mixing zone from the gas inlet. The spray nozzle assembly includes a barrel extension zone downstream of said mixing zone with a spray tip for directing the atomized liquid in a predetermined spray pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Lacroix
  • Publication number: 20160214074
    Abstract: A gas assisted spray nozzle assembly having a nozzle body in the form of a one piece hollow tubular member, such as a single cylindrical pipe section, which defines a mixing zone and a downstream barrel extension zone. A liquid inlet and an impingement pin are supported by said tubular member in opposed relation to each other at the mixing zone, and pressurized gas inlet is provided at an upstream end of the tubular member. The impingement pin in this case has an impingement surface radially offset from a central axis of the mixing zone on a side opposite the liquid inlet for receiving pressurized liquid and redirecting the liquid toward the central axis for enhanced intermixing with and atomization by the pressurized gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Lacroix
  • Publication number: 20160199805
    Abstract: A gas assisted liquid spray nozzle assembly having a nozzle body that defines a mixing zone, a liquid inlet communicating with the mixing zone from an end, and a pressurized gas inlet communicating with the mixing chamber from an upstream side. The liquid inlet includes a liquid injector extending into the nozzle body having a liquid inlet extension passage and a plurality of discharge orifices adjacent a closed downstream end which define an impingement surface for directing liquid into the mixing zone in transverse relation to a central axis of the mixing zone. The nozzle body and liquid injector define a plurality of concentrating gas discharge passages at respective locations of the injector liquid discharge orifices for causing individual pressurized gas to directly interact with transversely directed liquid into the mixing zone for enhanced atomization and ultimate discharge from a downstream spray tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Lacroix
  • Patent number: 9316508
    Abstract: A magnetic encoder has a high resolution track including a plurality of North/South pole pairs defining a plurality of pole junctions, and a reference track including a North/South pole pair defining a North/South pole junction aligned with a first pole junction of the high resolution track, and a South/North pole junction aligned with a second pole junction of the high resolution track. Only a single pole junction of the high resolution track is positioned between the first and second pole junctions of the high resolution track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventor: Mark LaCroix
  • Publication number: 20150091554
    Abstract: A magnetic encoder has a high resolution track including a plurality of North/South pole pairs defining a plurality of pole junctions, and a reference track including a North/South pole pair defining a North/South pole junction aligned with a first pole junction of the high resolution track, and a South/North pole junction aligned with a second pole junction of the high resolution track. Only a single pole junction of the high resolution track is positioned between the first and second pole junctions of the high resolution track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Mark LaCroix
  • Publication number: 20080074100
    Abstract: A device for sensing the input shaft speed of an automotive automatic transmission that is driven by the engine through the fluid coupling of a torque converter. The speed sensor device includes circumferentially spaced markings about the transmission input shaft and a speed sensor that is placed at close proximity to the circumferentially spaced markings through a hole in the torque converter stator shaft. An electronic control unit (ECU) analyzes the sensor output signal and in the case of an active speed sensor it also functions as its power source. During vehicle operation, the transmission input shaft rotates the target wheel in front of the speed sensor causing modulation of its output signal. The electronic control unit analyzes the signal modulation and calculates the input shaft rotational speed. A variety of sensor/target-wheel options and sensor mounting techniques could be used depending on the application constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: Timken US Corporation
    Inventors: James Burns, Wayne Denny, Mark Joki, Mark LaCroix, Brian Odegard, Alfred Santos, Orestes Varonis
  • Publication number: 20050054473
    Abstract: A device for sensing the input shaft speed of an automotive automatic transmission that is driven by the engine through the fluid coupling of a torque converter. The speed sensor device includes circumferentially spaced markings about the transmission input shaft and a speed sensor that is placed at close proximity to the circumferentially spaced markings through a hole in the torque converter stator shaft. An electronic control unit (ECU) analyzes the sensor output signal and in the case of an active speed sensor it also functions as its power source. During vehicle operation, the transmission input shaft rotates the target wheel in front of the speed sensor causing modulation of its output signal. The electronic control unit analyzes the signal modulation and calculates the input shaft rotational speed. A variety of sensor/target-wheel options and sensor mounting techniques could be used depending on the application constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Applicant: Timken US Corporation
    Inventors: James Burns, Wayne Denny, Mark Joki, Mark LaCroix, Brian Odegard, Alfred Santos, Orestes Varonis
  • Patent number: 6007250
    Abstract: An outer ring has a spherically convex outer surface mounted within a bore of a housing such that the outer ring may be misaligned with respect to the axis of the bore. A sensor target is mounted on an inner ring that is rotatable with respect to the outer ring, and a seal is mounted on the outer ring. A sensor is mounted on the seal in proximity to the sensor target, and a flexible electrical conductor is connected to the sensor for transmitting signals from the sensor. A portion of the flexible electrical conductor is fixed with respect to the housing. Circuitry may be electrically connected to the flexible electrical conductor. The flexible conductor and circuitry may be provided by a flexible circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Brauer, John C Hanson, Mark LaCroix, A. John Santos