Patents by Inventor Michael J. Tracey

Michael J. Tracey 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: 11970946
    Abstract: A clearance control assembly for a gas turbine engine that defines an axial direction and a radial direction and includes a stage of rotor blades and a shroud hanger. The assembly includes a case configured to be positioned outward along the radial direction from the stage of rotor blades when installed in the gas turbine engine. The case is further configured to be engaged with the shroud hanger at a first location when installed in the gas turbine engine. The assembly also includes a baffle positioned outward along the radial direction from the case to define a chamber therebetween. The baffle has a forward end and an aft end. The forward end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a first seal and the aft end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a second seal. The baffle, the case, or both define an inlet to allow a fluid to enter the chamber and the case defines an outlet to allow the fluid to exit the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Travis J. Packer, James Hamilton Grooms, David Fasig, Richard William Jendrix, Scott Alan Schimmels, Bradford Alan Tracey, Michael Alan Hile, Thomas Ryan Wallace
  • Publication number: 20240123132
    Abstract: A drain cassette for a dialysis unit has a fluid channel between venous and arterial connection ports, and a valve may controllably open and close fluid communication between a drain outlet port and the venous connection port or the arterial connection port. A blood circuit assembly and drain cassette may be removable from the dialysis unit, e.g., by hand and without the use of tools. A blood circuit assembly may include a single, unitary member that defines portions of a pair of blood pumps, control valves, channels to accurately position flexible tubing for an occluder, an air trap support, and/or other portions of the assembly. A blood circuit assembly engagement device may assist with retaining a blood circuit assembly on the dialysis unit, and/or with removal of the assembly. An actuator may operate a retainer element and an ejector element that interact with the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, Michael J. Wilt, Brian D. Tracey, Brett A. Rudolf, David E. Collins, Lisa A. Gustin, James D. Dale, Jesse T. Bodwell
  • Patent number: 11939566
    Abstract: A system and method for growing and maintaining biological material including producing a protein associated with the tissue, selecting cells associated with the tissue, expanding the cells, creating at least one tissue bio-ink including the expanded cells, printing the at least one tissue bio-ink in at least one tissue growth medium mixture, growing the tissue from the printed at least one tissue bio-ink, and maintaining viability of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Christopher C. Langenfeld, David D. B. Cannan, Dirk A. van der Merwe, Dean Kamen, Jason A. Demers, Frederick Morgan, Timothy D. Moreau, Brian D. Tracey, Matthew Ware, Richard J. Lanigan, Michael A. Baker, David Blumberg, Jr., Richard E. Gautney, Derek G. Kane, Dane Fawkes, Thomas J. Bollenbach, Michael C. Tilley, Stuart A. Jacobson, John F. Mannisto
  • Publication number: 20240077069
    Abstract: Hemodialysis and similar dialysis systems including a variety of systems and methods that make hemodialysis more efficient, easier, and/or more affordable, and include new fluid circuits for fluid flow in hemodialysis systems and a reciprocating diaphragm pump for pumping fluids. The reciprocating diaphragm pump includes a flexible diaphragm, a first rigid body having a curved pumping chamber wall, a second rigid body having an opposing curved control chamber wall. The diaphragm is interposed between the pumping chamber wall and the control chamber wall to define a pumping chamber and a control chamber. The diaphragm of the pump has a peripheral bead arranged to locate the diaphragm between the first rigid body and the second rigid body and a diaphragm body having a curved, semi-spheroid or domed shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Dirk A. van der Merwe, James D. Dale, Brian D. Tracey, Kevin L. Grant, Jason A. Demers, Catharine N. Flynn
  • Publication number: 20240066197
    Abstract: A pumping cassette including a housing having at least two inlet fluid lines and at least two outlet fluid lines. At least one balancing pod within the housing and in fluid connection with the fluid paths. The balancing pod balances the flow of a first fluid and the flow of a second fluid such that the volume of the first fluid equals the volume of the second fluid. The balancing pod also includes a membrane that forms two balancing chambers. Also included in the cassette is at least two reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pumps. The pumps are within the housing and they pump the fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet line and pump the second fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason A. Demers, Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Brian D. Tracey
  • Patent number: 11795033
    Abstract: A method of unlocking an elevator car door or an elevator car includes operating a door operator and moving a movable vane operably coupled to the door operator. If the elevator car is positioned within a landing door zone, the movable vane is moved into contact with an interlock roller. An engagement latch is rotated to disengage from an electrical contact in response to moving the movable vane into contact with the interlock roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
  • Patent number: 11760604
    Abstract: An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes at least one coupling roller supported on a base. A lock is configured to move relative to the base and the at least one coupling roller between a locking position and an unlocked position. An unlocking roller supported on the lock is situated to be moved by a vane of an elevator door coupler to move the lock into the unlocked position prior to the vane contacting the coupling roller. The elevator door interlock is compatible with a clamping type elevator door coupler and an expanding type elevator door coupler. The coupling roller is situated to be received between two vanes of the clamping type elevator door coupler or received against one of two vanes of the expanding type elevator door coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael J. Tracey
  • Patent number: 11661315
    Abstract: A sill gap monitoring system includes a sensor assembly configured to sense a sill gap between an elevator sill and at least one of a bottom surface of an elevator door and a bottom surface of a gib. The sill gap monitoring system generates an alert when the sill gap is greater than a sill gap limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
  • Patent number: 11655122
    Abstract: An illustrative example elevator door interlock includes a first base configured to be supported on a hoistway door component, The first base is situated to be selectively pivoted relative to the hoistway door component. A first bumper is supported on the first base such that pivotal movement of the first base changes a position of the first bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A second base is situated to be selectively moved relative to the hoistway door component. A second bumper is supported on the second base such that selective movement of the second base changes a position of the second bumper relative to the hoistway door component. A latch is situated for pivotal movement about a pivot axis relative to the first base between a door locking position and a released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Tracey, Richard E. Kulak
  • Publication number: 20230093391
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator door assembly includes a door panel having at least one edge. A base is configured to be received adjacent the edge of the door panel. An astragal is configured to be at least partially received over the base such that the base holds the astragal in a selected position aligned with the edge of the door panel. The astragal is at least partially compressible for closing off an interface between the edge of the door panel and an adjacent surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Colette RUDEN, Michael J. TRACEY
  • Patent number: 11572251
    Abstract: A system for elevator door sensor fusion, fault detection, and service notification is provided. The system includes a processor and a memory including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include monitoring outputs of a plurality of sensors. It is determined whether the outputs of the plurality of sensors follow an expected pattern. Based at least in part on determining that the outputs of the plurality of sensors do not follow the expected pattern: identifying a sensor in the plurality of sensors that is not following the expected pattern, and transmitting a notification indicating that the sensor is exhibiting unexpected behaviour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Walter Thomas Schmidt, Abdelilah Sakti, Michael J. Tracey
  • Patent number: 11440774
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator rope sway damping assembly includes a plurality of sway dampers having a width and a length. An actuator device selectively causes movement of the sway dampers in a direction transverse to the length between a first position where the sway dampers are spaced apart by a first distance and a second, sway-damping position where the sway dampers are spaced apart by a second, shorter distance. The actuator device provides an indication when the sway dampers are in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Cuauhtemoc Castro Inzunza, Michael J. Tracey, Patricia Derwinski
  • Patent number: 11390492
    Abstract: An illustrative example method of positioning an elevator door interlock includes positioning an elevator car in a hoistway near the hoistway door so that at an elevator door coupler is aligned with the interlock, opening a door of the elevator car and the hoistway door, accessing an adjustment mechanism supporting the interlock from outside of the hoistway, and using the adjustment mechanism to adjust a position of the interlock relative to the hoistway door from outside the hoistway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Erik Khzouz, Michael J. Tracey
  • Patent number: 11390487
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes an elevator car situated for movement among a plurality of landings. The elevator car includes a car door and a door mover. A door interlock associated with a landing door at each of the landings is configured to couple the associated landing door with the car door. The door interlocks respectively include a lock switch. A controller is configured to: cause the elevator car to move to at least one of the landings; when the elevator car is at the at least one landing, cause the door mover to instigate movement of the door interlock sufficient to at least temporarily change a position of the lock switch; and locate a malfunctioning one of the lock switches at one of the landings based on the movement of the door interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Tracey, Leslie C. Watterson
  • Patent number: 11254542
    Abstract: An elevator car door interlock includes a first link assembly and a latch assembly. The first link assembly includes a first intermediate link and a first link. The first intermediate link is movably connected to a first sensing vane. The first link is pivotally connected to a baseplate. The first link has a first link first arm pivotally connected to the first intermediate link, and a first link second arm having a first link first connection that is pivotally connected to a second sensing vane. The latch assembly includes a lock member, a door latch, and a latch link. The door latch is pivotally connected to the baseplate and is arranged to selectively engage the lock member. The latch link extends between and is pivotally connected to the door latch and the first intermediate link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Tracey, Richard E. Kulak
  • Patent number: 11247872
    Abstract: An elevator car door interlock includes a first link assembly having a first intermediate link movably connected to a first vane, and a first link having a first link first end pivotally connected to the first intermediate link and a first link second end pivotally connected to the second vane. A latch assembly includes a door latch pivotally connected to the baseplate wherein responsive to operation of a drive mechanism that is drivably connected to the first link second end, while an interlock roller engages at least one of the first vane and the second vane, the first vane moves towards the second vane and the door latch pivots to unlock an elevator car door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Tracey, Richard E. Kulak
  • Publication number: 20210403279
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a device that facilitates installing at least one elevator door component, includes a detector that is configured to detect at least one reference feature in a vicinity of a desired position of the elevator door component. A processor is configured to use information from the detector to determine the desired position of the elevator door component relative to the at least one detected feature. An indicator is configured to provide at least one indication corresponding to the desired position of the elevator door component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Joseph Crute, Tadeusz Pawel Witczak, Michael J. Tracey, James Chmiel
  • Publication number: 20210380373
    Abstract: A method of unlocking an elevator car door or an elevator car includes operating a door operator and moving a movable vane operably coupled to the door operator. If the elevator car is positioned within a landing door zone, the movable vane is moved into contact with an interlock roller. An engagement latch is rotated to disengage from an electrical contact in response to moving the movable vane into contact with the interlock roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey
  • Publication number: 20210347607
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator rope sway damping assembly includes a plurality of sway dampers having a width and a length. An actuator device selectively causes movement of the sway dampers in a direction transverse to the length between a first position where the sway dampers are spaced apart by a first distance and a second, sway-damping position where the sway dampers are spaced apart by a second, shorter distance. The actuator device provides an indication when the sway dampers are in the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Cuauhtemoc CASTRO INZUNZA, Michael J. TRACEY, Patricia DERWINSKI
  • Patent number: 11124389
    Abstract: A method of unlocking an elevator car door or an elevator car is provided including operating a door operator. A link arm of a car door interlock operably coupled to the door operator is rotated. If the elevator car is positioned within a landing door zone, an engagement link coupled to the link arm is configured to pivot relative to the link arm to disengage from an electrical contact. If the elevator car is not positioned within a landing door zone, the engagement link does not pivot relative to the link arm and remains engaged with the electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard E. Kulak, Michael J. Tracey