Patents by Inventor MICHAEL ALVIN BROWN

MICHAEL ALVIN BROWN 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: 9400257
    Abstract: A system includes a polymeric housing and a first connector in electrically conductive connection with a first component within the housing. The first connector includes a first extending member formed from a conductive loaded polymeric material. The first extending member is formed such that an interior thereof includes conductive elements within a matrix of the polymeric material so that the interior is electrically conductive and an exterior surface thereof comprises the polymeric material and is less conductive than the conductive interior. The conductive interior of the first extending member is in electrically conductive connection with the first component. The first connector further includes a first extending conductive element in electrical connection with the conductive interior of the first extending member. The first extending conductive element extends from the first extending member to pass through the polymeric housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: MSA TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Alvin Brown, Brian Keith Davis, Towner Bennet Scheffler
  • Patent number: 8790501
    Abstract: A sensor includes a housing, at least two electrodes within the housing, an electrolyte providing ionic conductivity between the electrodes and a vent member including a first section including a portion extending through a passage in the housing. The vent member also includes at least one extending member connected to the first section that extends through at least a portion of an interior of the housing. The first section of the vent member is porous so that gas can diffuse from the interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing via the vent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Alvin Brown, Towner Bennett Scheffler
  • Patent number: 8702935
    Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor includes a housing, a first working electrode within the housing and having a first section of gas transfer medium and a first layer of catalyst on the first section of gas transfer medium, and at least a second working electrode within the housing and having a second section of gas transfer medium and a second layer of catalyst on the second section of gas transfer medium. At least one of the first section of gas transfer medium and the second section of gas transfer medium includes at least one area in which the structure thereof has been irreversibly altered to limit diffusion of gas through the at least one of the first section of gas transfer medium or the second section of gas transfer medium toward the other of the at least one of the first section of gas transfer medium and the second section of gas transfer medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company
    Inventors: Brian Keith Davis, Towner Bennett Scheffler, Michael Alvin Brown
  • Publication number: 20140102898
    Abstract: A system includes a polymeric housing and a first connector in electrically conductive connection with a first component within the housing. The first connector includes a first extending member formed from a conductive loaded polymeric material. The first extending member is formed such that an interior thereof includes conductive elements within a matrix of the polymeric material so that the interior is electrically conductive and an exterior surface thereof comprises the polymeric material and is less conductive than the conductive interior. The conductive interior of the first extending member is in electrically conductive connection with the first component. The first connector further includes a first extending conductive element in electrical connection with the conductive interior of the first extending member. The first extending conductive element extends from the first extending member to pass through the polymeric housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
    Inventors: MICHAEL ALVIN BROWN, BRIAN KEITH DAVIS, TOWNER BENNET SCHEFFLER
  • Patent number: 8617364
    Abstract: An electrochemical sensor includes a polymeric housing and at least a first electrode within the housing. The first electrode includes an electrochemically active surface. The electrochemical sensor further includes a first connector in electrically conductive connection with the first electrode. The first connector includes a first extending member formed from a conductive loaded polymeric material. The first extending member is formed such that an interior thereof comprises conductive elements within a matrix of the polymeric material so that the interior is electrically conductive and an exterior surface thereof comprises the polymeric material and is less conductive than the conductive interior. The conductive interior of the first extending member is in electrically conductive connection with the first electrode. The first connector further includes a first extending conductive element in electrical connection with the conductive interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company
    Inventors: Michael Alvin Brown, Brian Keith Davis, Towner Bennet Scheffler
  • Publication number: 20130091924
    Abstract: A method of testing a system, which has at least one electrochemical sensor for detecting an analyte gas within a housing of the system, and the housing has an inlet, includes exhaling in the vicinity of the inlet of the housing of the system and measuring a response to exhaled breath to test one or more transport paths of the system. Measuring the response to exhaled breath may, for example, include measuring the response of a sensor within the housing of the system that is responsive to the presence of exhaled breath. The sensor responsive to the presence of exhaled breath may, for example, include an electrochemically active electrode responsive to a gas within exhaled breath. The electrochemically active electrode may, for example, be responsive to carbon dioxide or to oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: TOWNER BENNETT SCHEFFLER, GREGORY L. MARTIN, MICHAEL ALVIN BROWN
  • Publication number: 20130048496
    Abstract: An electrochemical sensor includes a polymeric housing and at least a first electrode within the housing. The first electrode includes an electrochemically active surface. The electrochemical sensor further includes a first connector in electrically conductive connection with the first electrode. The first connector includes a first extending member formed from a conductive loaded polymeric material. The first extending member is formed such that an interior thereof comprises conductive elements within a matrix of the polymeric material so that the interior is electrically conductive and an exterior surface thereof comprises the polymeric material and is less conductive than the conductive interior. The conductive interior of the first extending member is in electrically conductive connection with the first electrode. The first connector further includes a first extending conductive element in electrical connection with the conductive interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: MICHAEL ALVIN BROWN, BRIAN KEITH DAVIS, TOWNER BENNET SCHEFFLER
  • Publication number: 20110100814
    Abstract: A sensor includes a housing, at least two electrodes within the housing, an electrolyte providing ionic conductivity between the electrodes and a vent member including a first section including a portion extending through a passage in the housing. The vent member also includes at least one extending member connected to the first section that extends through at least a portion of an interior of the housing. The first section of the vent member is porous so that gas can diffuse from the interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing via the vent member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: MICHAEL ALVIN BROWN, TOWNER BENNETT SCHEFFLER
  • Publication number: 20110100813
    Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor includes a housing, a first working electrode within the housing and having a first section of gas transfer medium and a first layer of catalyst on the first section of gas transfer medium, and at least a second working electrode within the housing and having a second section of gas transfer medium and a second layer of catalyst on the second section of gas transfer medium. At least one of the first section of gas transfer medium and the second section of gas transfer medium includes at least one area in which the structure thereof has been irreversibly altered to limit diffusion of gas through the at least one of the first section of gas transfer medium or the second section of gas transfer medium toward the other of the at least one of the first section of gas transfer medium and the second section of gas transfer medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: BRIAN KEITH DAVIS, TOWNER BENNETT SCHEFFLER, MICHAEL ALVIN BROWN