Patents by Inventor Michael A. James
Michael A. James 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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Publication number: 20170206990Abstract: A pulsed sonar-based wireless rod position indication system that utilizes nuclear radiation and high temperature tolerant hardware. The pulsed sonar-based rod position indication system can precisely locate the rod position by measuring the time of flight of a transmitted signal and by using the phase and amplitude information of the same transmitted signal. Primary and secondary antenna probes located in the interior of the control rod drive rod travel housing and full hardware redundancy provide for improved accuracy. The time of flight, phase and amplitude raw signals are inputted to a wireless data transmitter capable of sending the raw signals to a receiver antenna located elsewhere inside a containment for further processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2016Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Jorge V. Carvajal, Michael D. Heibel, Nicola G. Arlia, Robert W. Flammang, David M. Sumego, Michael A. James, Melissa M. Walter
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Publication number: 20160333083Abstract: Provided herein are therapeutic agents having specificity for human CLPTM1 L polypeptide, including therapeutic agents comprising one or more CLPTM1 L-targeting agents, compositions comprising such therapeutic agents, and methods of using such compositions for treating or preventing a cancer, pre-cancerous lesion, or other disease condition associated with CLPTM1 L protein dysfunction (e.g., pathogenic production, modification, or function).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2015Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventor: Michael A. James
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Patent number: 8767903Abstract: An in-core neutron monitor that employs vacuum microelectronic devices to configure an in-core instrument thimble assembly that monitors and wirelessly transmits a number of reactor parameters directly from the core of a nuclear reactor without the use of external cabling. The in-core instrument thimble assembly is substantially wholly contained within an instrument guide tube within a nuclear fuel assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: John G. Seidel, Robert W. Flammang, Jorge V. Carvajal, Michael A. James, Nicola G. Arlia
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Patent number: 8761329Abstract: An improved apparatus for determining the position of a drive rod within the interior of a drive rod housing includes a transmission antenna at one location on the housing and a receiving antenna at another location on the housing. An electromagnetic excitation signal sent to the transmission antenna is detected, at least in part, by the receiving antenna, and the received signal is processed with a vector network analyzer routine to model the drive rod housing as a wave guide having a filter response. A group delay is detected and is compared with a calibration data set which provides a current position of the drive rod that corresponds with the group delay.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Jorge V. Carvajal, Michael A. James
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Patent number: 8677916Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine is provided with a common drive that drives the needles and loopers. It may also drive the presser foot assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, a drive motor drives a rotating drive shaft. The drive shaft has an off-center drive assembly connected to it that rocks a needle rocker shaft as well as looper rocker shafts, and also a presser foot shaft. The off-center drive includes a pair of eccentrics on the drive shaft at each side of the machine. Each eccentric oscillates a linkage plate that is fixed to a shaft such as the needle rocker shaft and is also linked to the looper rocker shafts and the presser foot shaft. The eccentric thereby reciprocates the needles and oscillates the loopers, as well as reciprocates the presser foot plate, in permanent synchronization.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2011Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff A. Kaetterhenry
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Publication number: 20130077727Abstract: An improved apparatus for determining the position of a drive rod within the interior of a drive rod housing includes a transmission antenna at one location on the housing and a receiving antenna at another location on the housing. An electromagnetic excitation signal sent to the transmission antenna is detected, at least in part, by the receiving antenna, and the received signal is processed with a vector network analyzer routine to model the drive rod housing as a wave guide having a filter response. A group delay is detected and is compared with a calibration data set which provides a current position of the drive rod that corresponds with the group delay.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: Jorge V. Carvajal, Michael A. James
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Publication number: 20120177166Abstract: An in-core neutron monitor that employs vacuum microelectronic devices to configure an in-core instrument thimble assembly that monitors and wirelessly transmits a number of reactor parameters directly from the core of a nuclear reactor without the use of external cabling. The in-core instrument thimble assembly is substantially wholly contained within an instrument guide tube within a nuclear fuel assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: John G. Seidel, Robert W. Flammang, Jorge V. Carvajal, Michael A. James, Nicola G. Arlia
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Publication number: 20120097083Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine is provided with a common drive that drives the needles and loopers. It may also drive the presser foot assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, a drive motor drives a rotating drive shaft. The drive shaft has an off-center drive assembly connected to it that rocks a needle rocker shaft as well as looper rocker shafts, and also a presser foot shaft. The off-center drive includes a pair of eccentrics on the drive shaft at each side of the machine. Each eccentric oscillates a linkage plate that is fixed to a shaft such as the needle rocker shaft and is also linked to the looper rocker shafts and the presser foot shaft. The eccentric thereby reciprocates the needles and oscillates the loopers, as well as reciprocates the presser foot plate, in permanent synchronization.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicant: L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANYInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff A. Kaetterhenry
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Patent number: 8061288Abstract: A multi-needle chain-stitch quilting machine and method of operation thereof are provided that imparts relative motion between the needles and the material that is controlled so as to pull needle thread tails from the needle side of the quilted material. The feature of controlling thread tails may be optional to provide selection of either a high speed mode of operation without thread tail control or a quality mode of operation with reduction or removal of needle thread tails from the face of the quilted material. Thread trimmers may be included at each needle location on the looper side of the material to cut both needle and looper threads.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2009Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff Kaetterhenry
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Patent number: 7617751Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a quilted material web having a quilted patterns thereon into panels having a desired length and width with respective quilted patterns centered therein. A first detector detects a center of a quilted pattern on the quilted material web; and in response thereto, a cutting apparatus cuts the quilted material web to form edges of a panel equidistant from the quilted pattern center. The cutting apparatus includes a pair of trim blades that cut opposite side edges of the panel equidistant from the quilted pattern center and a cross cutting apparatus that cuts end edges of the panel equidistant from the quilted pattern center.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2006Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Michael A. James, David Brian Scott, Terrance L. Myers
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Publication number: 20090199752Abstract: A multi-needle chain-stitch quilting machine and method of operation thereof are provided that imparts relative motion between the needles and the material that is controlled so as to pull needle thread tails from the needle side of the quilted material. The feature of controlling thread tails may be optional to provide selection of either a high speed mode of operation without thread tail control or a quality mode of operation with reduction or removal of needle thread tails from the face of the quilted material. Thread trimmers may be included at each needle location on the looper side of the material to cut both needle and looper threads.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2009Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicant: L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANYInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff Kaetterhenry
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Patent number: 7143705Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine (10) and method in which provided bridges (21,22) are provided having selectively operable stitching element pairs (90). Either the material or the bridges or both may be moved relative to the frame. Control schemes are provided to quilt continuous patterns, discrete patterns, linked multiple patterns, 360 degree patterns, closely spaced patterns. A plurality of small presser feet (158) are provided, each for one or more needles (132), with a wide spacing for material passage between the needle and looper plates. Combinations of intermittent and continuous feed and feed transition are employed during tack sequence sewing and other direction reversals in sewing, as well as double needle guards and thread deflection.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2005Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: L & P Property Management CompanyInventors: James T. Frazer, Jeff Kaetterhenry, Michael A. James, Terrance L. Myers, Roland Keller, David Brian Scott
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Patent number: 7073453Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine (10) and method are provided, in most embodiments of which needles (132) reciprocate horizontally through material (12) supported in a vertical quilting plane (16). Two or more bridges (21,22) are provided having separate motion control. Each bridge (21,22) has a row of selectively operable stitching element pairs (90), which may be fixed to or transversely moveable on the bridges (21,22). Either the material or the bridges may be moved relative to the frame. The bridges (21,22) each move transversely and vertically with the stitching elements (90) on each bridge can operate at different speeds. Each of the needle drives (25) and, in some embodiments the looper drives (26), can be selectively activated and deactivated. Control schemes are provided to quilt continuous patterns, discrete patterns, linked multiple patterns, 360 degree patterns, closely spaced patterns. A plurality of small presser feet (158) are provided, each for one or more needles (132).Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2004Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: James T. Frazer, Jeff Kaetterhenry, Michael A. James, Terrance L. Myers, Richard Villacis, Roland Keller, David Brian Scott
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Publication number: 20040237864Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine (10) and method are provided, in most embodiments of which needles (132) reciprocate horizontally through material (12) supported in a vertical quilting plane (16). Two or more bridges (21,22) are provided having separate motion control. Each bridge (21,22) has a row of selectively operable stitching element pairs (90), which may be fixed to or transversely moveable on the bridges (21,22). Either the material or the bridges may be moved relative to the frame. The bridges (21,22) each move transversely and vertically with the stitching elements (90) on each bridge can operate at different speeds. Each of the needle drives (25) and, in some embodiments the looper drives (26), can be selectively activated and deactivated. Control schemes are provided to quilt continuous patterns, discrete patterns, linked multiple patterns, 360 degree patterns, closely spaced patterns. A plurality of small presser feet (158) are provided, each for one or more needles (132).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: James T. Frazer, Jeff Kaetterhenry, Michael A. James, Terrance L. Myers, Richard Villacis, Roland Keller, David Brian Scott
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Patent number: 5154130Abstract: An automatic thread trimming method and apparatus are provided for tack and jump sewing of fabrics. In a preferred embodiment, a quilting apparatus having a plurality of sets of, preferably, double lock chain stitch forming elements, is disposed on a mechanically linked mechanism in a reconfigurable array corresponding to an array of discrete patterns to be sewn. Each set of the array is equipped with a thread trimming element. In a preferred embodiment, a thread trimming cutting edge is formed on one surface of a thread stitch forming element, preferably on a revolving retainer element that is mechanically linked to the mechanism. When operated in a forward direction, a chain stitched pattern is sewn with the stitches formed in cooperation with the retainer revolving in a forward direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1991Date of Patent: October 13, 1992Assignee: Leggett & Platt, IncorporatedInventors: Michael J. Gribetz, Glenn E. Leavis, Michael A. James
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Patent number: RE44885Abstract: A multi-needle chain-stitch quilting machine and method of operation thereof are provided that imparts relative motion between the needles and the material that is controlled so as to pull needle thread tails from the needle side of the quilted material. The feature of controlling thread tails may be optional to provide selection of either a high speed mode of operation without thread tail control or a quality mode of operation with reduction or removal of needle thread tails from the face of the quilted material. Thread trimmers may be included at each needle location on the looper side of the material to cut both needle and looper threads.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff Kaetterhenry
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Patent number: RE45791Abstract: A multi-needle chain-stitch quilting machine and method of operation thereof are provided that imparts relative motion between the needles and the material that is controlled so as to pull needle thread tails from the needle side of the quilted material. The feature of controlling thread tails may be optional to provide selection of either a high speed mode of operation without thread tail control or a quality mode of operation with reduction or removal of needle thread tails from the face of the quilted material. Thread trimmers may be included at each needle location on the looper side of the material to cut both needle and looper threads.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff Kaetterhenry, James T. Frazer, Terrance L. Myers