Patents by Inventor Michael A. Norris
Michael A. Norris 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: 20050250062Abstract: An ejector, such as a venturi, facilitates the delivery of gaseous fuel to the combustion chamber of a burner. A blower forces air through the ejector, and the air flow produces a suction that draws fuel from a fuel inlet to produce a fuel-air mixture. The amount of fuel drawn from the fuel inlet is a function of the air flow such that a substantially constant fuel-air ratio is obtained over a range of air flow rates and temperatures without the need for a separate high-pressure fuel pump. The fuel-air mixture may be provided to a combustion chamber for combustion. Air from the blower may be pre-heated prior to entering the ejector, for example, using a heat exchanger that recovers some of the heat from the combusted fuel-air mixture. Air flow through the ejector may be conditioned, for example, by a swirler, to produce a tangential air flow that can increase fuel flow by increasing air velocity across the fuel inlet and/or produce a swirl-stabilized flame in the combustion chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2005Publication date: November 10, 2005Applicant: New Power Concepts LLCInventors: Kurt Kornbluth, Michael Norris
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Publication number: 20050183419Abstract: An external combustion engine having an exhaust flow diverter for directing the flow of an exhaust gas. The external combustion engine has a heater head having a plurality of heater tubes through which a working fluid is heated by conduction. The exhaust flow diverter is a cylinder disposed around the outside of the plurality of heater tubes and includes a plurality of openings through which the flow of exhaust gas may pas. The exhaust flow diverter directs the exhaust gas past the plurality of heater tubes. The external combustion engine may also include a plurality of flow diverter fins coupled to the plurality of heater tubes to direct the flow of the exhaust gas. The heater tubes may be U-shaped or helical coiled shaped.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2005Publication date: August 25, 2005Applicant: New Power Concepts LLCInventors: Ryan LaRocque, Christopher Langenfeld, Michael Norris, Stanley Smith, Jonathan Strimling
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Publication number: 20050090517Abstract: ABSTRACTA pharmaceutical composition comprises a combination of a selective or specific COX 2 inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or derivative thereof and an opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or derivative thereof, for example a combination of meloxicam and codeine, as active ingredients, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. It may include a centrally-acting cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor such as paracetamol or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts or derivatives.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2003Publication date: April 28, 2005Inventor: Michael Norris
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Publication number: 20050063806Abstract: A device for transporting cartridges comprises a housing for holding a plurality of cartridges in a temperature controlled environment. A transport system is also provided and has a grasping mechanism for grasping one of the cartridges. The transport system is further used to remove the cartridge from the housing and to place the cartridge into a scanner.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2004Publication date: March 24, 2005Applicant: Affymetrix, Inc.Inventors: Michael Norris, Peter Lobban, Donald Besemer, Andrew Carlson
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Patent number: 6857260Abstract: An external combustion engine having an exhaust flow diverter for directing the flow of an exhaust gas. The external combustion engine has a heater head having a plurality of heater tubes through which a working fluid is heated by conduction. The exhaust flow diverter is a cylinder disposed around the outside of the plurality of heater tubes and includes a plurality of openings through which the flow of exhaust gas may pas. The exhaust flow diverter directs the exhaust gas past the plurality of heater tubes. The external combustion engine may also include a plurality of flow diverter fins coupled to the plurality of heater tubes to direct the flow of the exhaust gas. The heater tubes may be U-shaped or helical coiled shaped.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2003Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: New Power Concepts LLCInventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael Norris, Ryan Keith LaRocque, Stanley B. Smith III, Jonathan Strimling
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Publication number: 20050032072Abstract: This invention provides methods and systems for precisely and consistently fragmenting and labeling nucleic acid fragments. Time and temperature programmable temperature control modules are used to provide repeatable time/temperature profiles for fragmentation and labeling reactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2003Publication date: February 10, 2005Applicant: Perlegen Sciences, Inc.Inventors: Curtis Kautzer, Matt Morenzoni, Michael Norris
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Publication number: 20040154297Abstract: An improvement is provided to a pressurized close-cycle machine that has a cold-end pressure vessel and is of the type having a piston undergoing reciprocating linear motion within a cylinder containing a working fluid heated by conduction through a heater head by heat from an external thermal source. The improvement includes a heat exchanger for cooling the working fluid, where the heat exchanger is disposed within the cold-end pressure vessel. The heater head may be directly coupled to the cold-end pressure vessel by welding or other methods. A coolant tube is used to convey coolant through the heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Inventors: Jonathan Strimling, Clement D. Bouchard, Thomas Q. Gurski, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael Norris, Ryan Keith LaRocque
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Publication number: 20040144089Abstract: A thermal cycle engine having a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy across the heater head from a heated external fluid to the working fluid. The heat exchanger has a set of heat transfer pins each having an axis directed away from the cylindrical wall of the expansion cylinder. The height and density of the heat transfer pins may vary with distance in the direction of the flow path, and the pin structure may be fabricated by stacking perforated rings in contact with a heater head. Ribs are provided interior to the heater head to enhance hoop strength and thermal transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2004Publication date: July 29, 2004Applicant: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: Dean L. Kamen, Thomas Q. Gurski, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Ryan Keith LaRocque, Michael Norris, Kingston Owens, Jonathan Strimling
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Patent number: 6708481Abstract: A fuel injector for a liquid fuel burner that provides for large turn-down ratios and low firing rates. The fuel injector has a fast acting valve to provide a pulsed flow of fuel from a fuel supply and a nozzle coupled to the valve for receiving and atomizing the pulsed flow of fuel. The pulse of atomizing fuel is injected into the throat of a burner. A fuel controller coupled to the fuel supply and the fuel injector governs the rate of fuel delivery by controlling the duration and frequency of an opening period of the fast acting valve.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2003Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: New Power Concepts LLCInventors: Dean L. Kamen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael Norris
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Patent number: 6705081Abstract: A method for controlling the fuel-air ratio of a burner having a blower responsive to a blower drive signal for injecting air into the burner. The method is based at least on the concentration of a gas in an exhaust gas product of a combustion chamber of the burner and includes measuring the gas concentration in the exhaust gas product, deriving a gas concentration signal from the measured gas concentration, determining the fuel-air ratio from the gas concentration signal and the sign of the derivative of the gas concentration signal with respect to the blower drive signal, and controlling the fuel-air ratio by adjusting the air flow rate into the burner. The burner may be, for example, in a Stirling cycle engine.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2001Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: New Power Concepts LLCInventors: Dean L. Kamen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael Norris, William W. Ormerod, III, Andrew Schnellinger
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Patent number: 6694731Abstract: A thermal cycle engine having a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy across the heater head from a heated external fluid to the working fluid. The heat exchanger has a set of heat transfer pins each having an axis directed away from the cylindrical wall of the expansion cylinder. The height and density of the heat transfer pins may vary with distance in the direction of the flow path, and the pin structure may be fabricated by stacking perforated rings in contact with a heater head. Ribs are provided interior to the heater head to enhance hoop strength and thermal transfer.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2001Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: Dean L. Kamen, Thomas Q. Gurski, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Ryan Keith LaRocque, Michael Norris, Kingston Owens, Jonathan Strimling
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Publication number: 20040033140Abstract: A device and method for controlling the flow of a gaseous fuel from a fuel supply to a pressurized combustion chamber. A fuel pump is included in the gas train from supply to chamber. The fuel pump increases the pressure of the gas to allow efficient injection into the chamber. The pump is modulated to control the fuel flow. Both alternating current and pulse-width-modulated direct current signals may be used to control the flow. The pump may be a piston pump or a diaphragm pump. Feedback may be provided from sensors that determine operating parameters of the engine and such sensor signals may be used by the controller to maintain a parameter, such as temperature, at a specified value. An acoustic filter can be included in the gas train to significantly reduce gas flow pulsations generated by the pump. This filter improves the uniformity of the combustion process.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2003Publication date: February 19, 2004Applicant: New Power Concepts LLCInventors: Eric R. Jensen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Scott W. Newell, Michael Norris, Jeffrey D. Renk, Andrew Schnellinger
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Publication number: 20030230440Abstract: A personal vehicle for transporting a user over a surface including an external combustion engine. The vehicle includes a generator for converting the mechanical energy produced by the external combustion engine to electrical energy and an energy storage device for storing power provided by the generator and for providing power to the external combustion engine and the assembly. The personal vehicle includes a controller for controlling a total power load placed on the external combustion engine providing short term regulation of external combustion engine parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2003Publication date: December 18, 2003Inventors: Dean L. Kamen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael Norris, Jason Michael Sachs
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Patent number: 6662899Abstract: One or more autonomous devices are deployed in the well to provide a moveable sensor source or obstruction for coupling a tube wave seismic signal into the formation adjacent the well bore. The autonomous devices move in the well and provide moveable obstructions or discontinuities which couple tube waves existing in the well bore or production tubing into the formation adjacent the well bore. Wellbore tube wave energy is converted to body wave energy at minor borehole obstructions or irregularities that become sources of seismic energy. A well bore may contain a plurality of minor obstructions or discontinuities. Each obstruction or discontinuity position along the borehole has an associated unique waveform source coda that may be measured for processing the wavefield radiated into the earth formation surrounding the well bore. A plurality of sensors detects the radiated seismic energy after the seismic energy has transited intervening earth formations.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Michael Norris, Peter Aronstam
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Publication number: 20030177764Abstract: A fuel injector for a liquid fuel burner that provides for large turn-down ratios and low firing rates. The fuel injector has a fast acting valve to provide a pulsed flow of fuel from a fuel supply and a nozzle coupled to the valve for receiving and atomizing the pulsed flow of fuel. The pulse of atomizing fuel is injected into the throat of a burner. A fuel controller coupled to the fuel supply and the fuel injector governs the rate of fuel delivery by controlling the duration and frequency of an opening period of the fast acting valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2003Publication date: September 25, 2003Inventors: Dean L. Kamen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael Norris
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Publication number: 20030145590Abstract: An external combustion engine having an exhaust flow diverter for directing the flow of an exhaust gas. The external combustion engine has a heater head having a plurality of heater tubes through which a working fluid is heated by conduction. The exhaust flow diverter is a cylinder disposed around the outside of the plurality of heater tubes and includes a plurality of openings through which the flow of exhaust gas may pas. The exhaust flow diverter directs the exhaust gas past the plurality of heater tubes. The external combustion engine may also include a plurality of flow diverter fins coupled to the plurality of heater tubes to direct the flow of the exhaust gas. The heater tubes may be U-shaped or helical coiled shaped.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2003Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael Norris, Ryan Keith LaRocque, Stanley B. Smith, Jonathan Strimling
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Publication number: 20030127232Abstract: An apparatus and methods are disclosed for using optical sensors to determine the position of a movable flow control element in a well control tool. A housing has a movable element disposed within such that the element movement controls the flow through the tool. An optical sensing system senses the movement of the element. Optical sensors are employed that use Bragg grating reflections, time domain reflectometry, and line scanning techniques to determine the element position. A surface or downhole processor is used to interpret the sensor signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Terry R. Bussear, Michael A. Carmody, Steven L. Jennings, Don A. Hopmann, Edward J. Zisk, Michael Norris
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Patent number: 6543215Abstract: An external combustion engine having an exhaust flow diverter for directing the flow of an exhaust gas. The external combustion engine has a heater head having a plurality of heater tubes through which a working fluid is heated by conduction. The exhaust flow diverter is a cylinder disposed around the outside of the plurality of heater tubes and includes a plurality of openings through which the flow of exhaust gas may pas. The exhaust flow diverter directs the exhaust gas past the plurality of heater tubes. The external combustion engine may also include a plurality of flow diverter fins coupled to the plurality of heater tubes to direct the flow of the exhaust gas. The heater tubes may be U-shaped or helical coiled shaped.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: New Power Concepts LLCInventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael Norris, Ryan Keith LaRocque, Stanley B. Smith, III, Jonathan Strimling
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Patent number: 6536207Abstract: An auxiliary power system for providing electrical power and heat to an indoor area includes an external combustion engine, such as a Stirling cycle engine, for generating mechanical energy and thermal energy. The external combustion engine burns a fuel with substantially complete combustion such that exhaust emissions from the external combustion engine are below a predetermined exhaust level. A generator is coupled to the external combustion engine and converts the mechanical energy produced by the external combustion engine to electrical power. A first power output is used to provide the electrical power produced by the generator. The external combustion engine and generator are disposed within a housing such that the external combustion engine, generator and housing combination is a portable size. The thermal energy generated by the external combustion engine may be used to heat the atmosphere surrounding the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2000Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: New Power Concepts LLCInventors: Dean L. Kamen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael Norris, Jason Michael Sachs
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Publication number: 20020189253Abstract: An external combustion engine having an exhaust flow diverter for directing the flow of an exhaust gas. The external combustion engine has a heater head having a plurality of heater tubes through which a working fluid is heated by conduction. The exhaust flow diverter is a cylinder disposed around the outside of the plurality of heater tubes and includes a plurality of openings through which the flow of exhaust gas may pas. The exhaust flow diverter directs the exhaust gas past the plurality of heater tubes. The external combustion engine may also include a plurality of flow diverter fins coupled to the plurality of heater tubes to direct the flow of the exhaust gas. The heater tubes may be U-shaped or helical coiled shaped.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2001Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, Michael Norris, Ryan Keith LaRocque, Stanley B. Smith, Jonathan Strimling