Patents by Inventor Michael A. Ford
Michael A. Ford 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: 5613522Abstract: Disclosed are flexible, kink-resistant shaped fabric products which are particularly well adapted for protecting and/or covering elongate substrates, such as cables, conduits, wiring and the like. The shaped fabric products include a wall portion comprising a filament resiliently set in a spiral configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaped product. The wall portion may also preferably comprise a filament in the form of circumferential hoops substantially conforming in shape and size to the cross-sectional configuration of the shaped product.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1995Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Assignee: Bentley-Harris Inc.Inventors: Michael A. Ford, Richard A. Barlow, Martin I. Jacobs
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Patent number: 5607707Abstract: An aqueous composition for the preparation of optically clear products for use in human or animal healthcare comprising 0.1 to 2.0% w/w of an oil-soluble ingredient as a 20-30% w/w dispersion in a suitable oil or 0.1 to 5.0% w/v as the pure crystalline compound, 2-20% of an emulsifier having an HLB (hydrophilic/lipophilic balance) value of between 10 and 18 or where a blend of emulsifiers is employed, a calculated HLB value of between 10 and 18 and 0.1 to 1.0% of an antioxidant or a mixture of antioxidants. Processes for preparation of the compositions and their use in the preparation of beverages are provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1995Date of Patent: March 4, 1997Assignee: SmithKline Beecham p.l.c.Inventors: Michael A. Ford, Clive Mellor, Jayne L. Wakefield
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Patent number: 5556495Abstract: Disclosed are methods for forming flexible, kink-resistant shaped fabric products which are particularly well adapted for protecting and/or covering elongate substrates, such as cables, conduits, wiring and the like. The shaped fabric products include a wall portion formed from a filamentary material which is resiliently set in a spiral configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaped product. The wall portion may also preferably formed with a filamentary material in the form of circumferential hoops substantially conforming in shape and size to the cross-sectional configuration of the shaped product.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1995Date of Patent: September 17, 1996Assignee: Bentley-Harris Inc.Inventors: Michael A. Ford, Richard A. Barlow, Martin I. Jacobs
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Patent number: 5413149Abstract: Disclosed are flexible, kink-resistant shaped fabric products which are particularly well adapted for protecting and/or covering elongate substrates, such as cables, conduits, wiring and the like. The shaped fabric products include a wall portion comprising a filament resiliently set in a spiral configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaped product. The wall portion may also preferably comprise a filament in the form of circumferential hoops substantially conforming in shape and size to the cross-sectional configuration of the shaped product. Also disclosed are methods for forming such shaped product.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1991Date of Patent: May 9, 1995Assignee: The Bentley-Harris Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Michael A. Ford, Richard A. Barlow, Martin I. Jacobs
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Patent number: 5300337Abstract: Wraparound sleeves formed by weaving, knitting or braiding for the protection of elongated articles, such as cables and hoses, are disclosed. The tubes are provided with closure means comprising multifilament, bulky yarn interlaced in the sleeving material and relatively unconfined along one of its marginal edges and of Velcro brand hook tape or similar hook type elements disposed along the other marginal edge.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1992Date of Patent: April 5, 1994Assignee: The Bentley-Harris Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Hubert Andrieu, Daniel G. Caudron, Harry F. Gladfelter, Marie C. Tresslar, Denis H. T. Van Wassenhove, Michael A. Ford
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Patent number: 4684255Abstract: In an interferometric apparatus the path of the output beam of a rotary Optical Path Difference scanning assembly leading to an electrically responsive detector is maintained substantially fixed in space for any scan angle within predetermined limits, thus obviating a serious drawback of a prior art proposal wherein the output beam translates significantly over the detector face with changes in scan angle, with the result that the detector output is vitiated by totally spurious variations of the energy reaching it.In one embodiment, the scanning assembly comprises a beam splitter having a semi-reflective layer the output face of which cooperates with the face of an output mirror normal thereto, the axis of rotation being substantially coincident with the line of intersection between the prolongation planes of the two faces. A Fourier Transform spectrophotometer embodying the assembly is also described.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1985Date of Patent: August 4, 1987Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer CorporationInventor: Michael A. Ford
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Patent number: 4453225Abstract: The accuracy of the ratio between two time-varying quantities represented by electrical signals, such as the sample transmission (or absorption) signal and the reference signal in a double-beam, ratio-recording, infrared spectrophotometer, is impaired if the electrical signals are subject to inconstant phase shifts. The present invention counteracts the effect of phase shift variations, whatever their origin, by alternately reversing the order in which an elemental component of one quantity is made to occur with respect to an elemental component of the other quantity so that the said effect reverses in sign when the order is reversed and substantially cancels out when the respective elemental portions are combined to form the numerator and the denominator of the ratio. The invention is particularly described with reference to a spectrophotometer of the type referred to.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1981Date of Patent: June 5, 1984Assignee: Perkin-Elmer LimitedInventor: Michael A. Ford
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Patent number: 4438329Abstract: The vitiating effect on the fluorescence measuring signal of extraneous currents flowing through the fluorescence detection means in flash spectrofluorimetry is almost completely eliminated by integrating the output of the fluorescence measuring means for the duration of the signal period, which includes a flash duration, and again for an equal period occurring between flashes which therefore does not include a flash duration. The second integral is then subtracted from the first to obtain a fluorescence measuring signal substantially unaffected by extraneous currents, such as dark current, sample phosphorescence, etc. The invention is applicable to single- and double-channel operation. In the latter, in addition to the fluorescence measuring channel there is provided a fluorescence reference channel. This enables the fluorescence measuring signal and the fluorescence reference signal to be ratioed together, the effect of extraneous currents having first been eliminated in both.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1982Date of Patent: March 20, 1984Assignee: Perkin-Elmer LimitedInventors: Michael A. Ford, Brian B. Leather
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Patent number: 4365303Abstract: Disclosed herein is method and apparatus for determining the nature of an unknown substance, which includes apparatus for entering a peak table of the spectrum of an unknown substance into computing apparatus, apparatus for adjusting the peak table to a first preselected standardized format, computing apparatus for comparing the so standardized peak table of the unknown with a first library of chemical structural units contained in memory in the computing apparatus, apparatus for making a list of the possible chemical structural units most closely corresponding to the unknown substance, apparatus for readjusting the peak table to a second preselected standardized format, apparatus for forming a file for the unknown substance including data corresponding to the readjusted peak table and to the list of possible chemical structural units, computing apparatus for comparing the file of the unknown substance with a second library containing files of known substances contained in memory in the computing apparatus, eType: GrantFiled: February 7, 1980Date of Patent: December 21, 1982Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer CorporationInventors: Robert W. Hannah, John P. Coates, Abraham Savitzky, Michael A. Ford, Harry V. Carter
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Patent number: 4332470Abstract: A light chopper for chopping the monochromatic light beam of a spectrophotometer system, has a rotatable shaft driven by a synchronous motor at a frequency proportional to the power line frequency. An aperture bearing disc rotates with the shaft in relation to a photocell/detector array for generating digital timing signals for use by a microcomputer to control the tasks of the spectrophotometer system in synchronism with line frequency. The microcomputer monitors line frequency for responsively programming a programmable divider for generating an index signal for proportionally sequencing the wavelength of the monochromatic beam through a predetermined spectral range.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1980Date of Patent: June 1, 1982Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer CorporationInventors: Morteza M. Chamran, Larkin B. Scott, Paul B. Williams, Michael A. Ford
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Patent number: 4132481Abstract: A cross-talk balancing circuit for double-beam spectrophotometers is disclosed. The circuit includes means to measure in four successive sample periods the sample plus sample re-radiation (S + s), reference radiation plus reference re-radiation (R + r), sample re-radiation (s) and reference re-radiation (r). The detector, however, does not respond quickly so it introduces cross-talk into each measurement. Electronic phasing circuitry selects the time when the detector output is sampled so that the cross-talk in the measurements is equalized permitting it to be subtracted out of the measurement thereby leaving a remainder which accurately corresponds to the desired quantities S and R.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1976Date of Patent: January 2, 1979Assignee: Perkin-Elmer LimitedInventors: Michael A. Ford, David Jackson
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Patent number: 4130784Abstract: In a plotting apparatus such as a spectrophotometer having a modifying system which introduces a phase lag between the occurrence of a change in a dependent variable quantity and plotting thereof against an independent variable quantity, in one embodiment, a cam is used to provide a quantity representing the dependent phase lag and the output of the cam is coupled to the driving system for the plotter so as to introduce therein a phase shift to compensate for the phase lag. In another, electrical embodiment the same object is accomplished by digitizing the phase lag and using the digital value to offset the wavenumber stepper motor and the chart stepper motor in the spectrophotometer with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1976Date of Patent: December 19, 1978Assignee: Perkin-Elmer LimitedInventor: Michael A. Ford
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Patent number: 4073198Abstract: In a device such as a spectrophotometer with an associated chart recorder in which the speed ratio between a first displaceable member and a second displaceable member may be selectively changed within a predetermined range of speed ratios, in a first embodiment of invention which is mechanical in nature, a number of gear trains in constant mesh with each other are provided to obtain the different speed ratios. Each of the gear trains has associated therewith a rotary disc with circumferentially even spaced apertures, the gear train obtaining an input from the first displaceable member by means of arms rotatable concentric with the discs, the arms carrying a pin adapted to enter into positive engagement with any one aperture, the number apertures depending on the scale served by the associated gear train.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1976Date of Patent: February 14, 1978Assignee: Perkin-Elmer LimitedInventor: Michael A. Ford