Patents by Inventor Michael R. Smith

Michael R. Smith 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).

  • Processes for maximizing high-value aromatics production utilizing stabilized crude benzene withdrawal
    Patent number: 8481797
    Abstract: Processes for maximizing high-value aromatics production utilizing stabilized crude benzene withdrawal are provided. Aromatic reactor effluent comprising a C5? fraction and a C6 to C10 fraction is separated into a benzene-rich stream and liquid and vapor streams depleted in benzene, one of the liquid streams depleted in benzene being a benzene-depleted C6? fraction. At least a portion of the C5? fraction from the benzene-rich stream is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Gavin P. Towler
  • Aircraft occupant protection system
    Patent number: 8474753
    Abstract: A crash attenuation system for an aircraft includes an airbag carried by the aircraft that is inflatable generally adjacent an exterior of the aircraft. The airbag is in fluid communication with at least one vent passage for channeling gas from within the interior of the airbag to a region external to the airbag that allows the gas to escape without being obstructed by the airbag. A gas source is in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for inflating the airbag. A vent valve is provided within the vent passage for controlling a flow of gas through the vent passage, thereby controlling deflation of the airbag. The vent valve is continuously adjustable to and between an open state, a closed state, and any number of partially open states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Hill, Michael R. Smith, Zi Lu, Cheng-Ho Tho
  • Vibration Isolation System
    Publication number: 20130119591
    Abstract: A vibration isolator includes a housing having an upper fluid chamber, a lower fluid chamber, a piston, a tuning passage, and a linear inductance motor assembly for changing the isolation frequency of the vibration isolator. The piston is resiliently disposed within the housing. A vibration tuning fluid is located in the upper fluid chamber, the lower fluid chamber, and the tuning passage. The linear inductance motor assembly includes a magnet member and an inductance coil at least partially surrounding the magnet member. A control system is configured to selectively actuate the magnet member; wherein selective actuation of the magnet member selectively imparts a pumping force on the tuning fluid, thereby changing the isolation frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Taeoh Lee, Michael R. Smith, Frank B. Stamps, David E. Heverly, JR.
  • Virtual service domains
    Patent number: 8442041
    Abstract: In one embodiment, ports of a network device are assigned to virtual service domains (VSDs). The ports are coupled to a virtual Ethernet module (VEM) of the network device. Each VSD is associated with one or more virtual service engines (VSEs) in a particular order. Each VSE is configured to apply a particular service to traffic traversing the VSE. Traffic received at a virtual Ethernet module (VEM) of the network device that is destined for a particular VSD, and is received on a port that has not been assigned to the particular VSD, is forwarded to the particular VSD via the one or more VSEs associated with the particular VSD such that the traffic traverses the one or more VSEs in the particular order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Sardar, Udayakumar Srinivasan, Shankar Ramachandran, Chidambareswaran Raman, Ajit Sanzgiri, Michael R. Smith
  • PYLON MOUNTING SYSTEM WITH VIBRATION ISOLATION
    Publication number: 20130105621
    Abstract: A pylon mounting system with vibration isolation is provided. The system generally includes a housing that defines a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, a fluid disposed within the fluid chambers; a piston assembly at least partially disposed within the housing, and a tuning passage defined by the piston assembly for providing fluid communication between the fluid chambers. The piston assembly has a first arm and a second arm, and each arm has a tubeform bearing for providing pitch and roll stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Steven Spears, Frank B. Stamps, Michael S. Seifert
  • Crash attenuation system for aircraft
    Patent number: 8418957
    Abstract: A crash attenuation system for an aircraft, the system having an airbag carried by the aircraft and inflatable generally adjacent an exterior of the aircraft. The airbag has at least one vent for releasing gas from the interior of the airbag. A gas source is in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for inflating the airbag with gas generated provided by the gas source. A vent valve is provided for controlling a flow of gas through each vent, each vent valve being selectively configurable between an open state, in which gas can pass through the associated vent from the interior of the airbag, and a closed state, in which gas is retained within the interior of the airbag. The gas source is provided for at least partially re-inflating the airbag after venting of gas through the at least one vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Cheng-Ho Tho, Somen Chowdhury
  • CONSTANT AREA VENT FOR EXTERNAL CRASH ATTENUATION AIRBAG
    Publication number: 20130068883
    Abstract: The external crash attenuation airbag includes an inflatable bladder which is inflatable to an exterior of an aircraft, so that the inflatable bladder is generally located between the aircraft and a crash surface when inflated. The airbag includes a vent configured to burst at a predefined burst pressure, the vent being located a side portion of the inflatable bladder. The airbag also includes a vent support located approximate the vent, the vent support being configured to prevent deformation and therefore maintain the effectiveness of a venting area of the vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Zi Lu, Cheng-Ho Tho, Michael R. Smith, Andrew T. Hill, Samgeeth Rajan
  • Active Vent and Re-Inflation System for a Crash Attenuation Airbag
    Publication number: 20130032665
    Abstract: A crash attenuation system has an airbag inflatable generally adjacent to an exterior of the aircraft. The system includes a gas generator in fluid communication with an interior of the airbag. The system also includes a vent system having a vent passage supported by the aircraft, the vent passage being configured to allow gas to escape from within the airbag during an impact. The vent system also includes an actuator door for sealing the vent passage, thereby preventing gas from leaving the airbag. The actuator door is actuated by an actuator, the actuator being in fluid communication with the gas generator through an actuator duct. The system operates such that deployment of gas from the gas generator causes the actuator to inflate, thereby causing the actuator door to seal the vent passage. The gas generator is configured to re-inflate the airbag after the actuator door seals the vent passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Zi Lu, Cheng-Ho Tho, Michael R. Smith
  • Multiple network architecture providing for migration of devices
    Patent number: 8363666
    Abstract: In providing seamless migration of virtual or physical devices among networks of a virtual local area network (VLAN) such as one spanning multiple data centers, a same virtual anycast Medium Access Control (VMAC) is used for reaching default gateways in virtual and/or physical devices. Each network is typically configured such that source MAC learning for the VMAC should happen only for packets coming from the local default gateway. In this manner, when a device is migrated between networks of the VLAN, the same IP address and corresponding MAC address (typically still residing in the MAC cache of the migrated device) can be used to reach the local default gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Siva Prasad Donthamsetty, Kulkarni Hrishikesh Vishwas, Lilian Sylvia Fernandes, Michael R. Smith, Srinath Mohanraj
  • Crash attenuation system for aircraft
    Patent number: 8348192
    Abstract: A crash attenuation system for an aircraft, the system having an airbag carried by the aircraft and inflatable generally adjacent an exterior of the aircraft. The airbag has at least one vent for releasing gas from the interior of the airbag. A gas source is in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for inflating the airbag with gas generated provided by the first gas source. A vent valve is provided for controlling a flow of gas through each vent, each vent valve being selectively configurable between an open state, in which gas can pass through the associated vent from the interior of the airbag, any number of intermediate states, in which the vent is partially open, and a closed state, in which gas is retained within the interior of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Ho Tho, Michael R. Smith
  • Variable Stiffness Support
    Publication number: 20130001841
    Abstract: A system and method to control vibrations exerted on a non-vibrating structure. The system includes an adjustable variable stiffness support securely attached to both the non-vibrating structure and a vibrating structure. A driver operably associated with the variable stiffness support is configured to selectively adjust the variable stiffness support. A control system in data communication with both a sensor system and the driver includes an algorithm to determine whether adjustment of the variable stiffness support is required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: David F. Haynes, David L. Williams, Michael R. Smith, Robert J. Pascal, David E. Heverly, Taeoh Lee
  • Vibration-attenuating hard-mounted pylon
    Patent number: 8328129
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a pylon has six pylon mounting links for mounting the pylon to an airframe. Each link is considered “near-rigid” and has a spherical-bearing rod-end on both ends such that the link can only transmit axial loads. At least one of the links has a mass carried within the link and selectively moveable by an actuating means along the axis of the link in an oscillatory manner for attenuating vibrations traveling axially through the link. The actuating means may be an electromechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or piezoelectric system. By mounting each link in a selected orientation relative to the other links, the actuating means may be operated in a manner that attenuates axial vibration that would otherwise be transmitted through the link and into the airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Frank B. Stamps
  • Variable Stiffness Liquid Inertia Vibration Eliminator
    Publication number: 20120292839
    Abstract: A variable stiffness liquid inertia vibration isolation device includes a liquid inertia vibration elimination isolator and a variable stiffness spring operably associated with the liquid inertia vibration elimination isolator for varying the stiffness of the liquid inertia vibration isolator. The variable stiffness spring may include an elastomeric pad exhibiting a first stiffness along a first axis and a second stiffness, significantly greater than the first stiffness, along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Frank B. Stamps
  • VIRTUAL SERVICE DOMAINS
    Publication number: 20120294316
    Abstract: In one embodiment, ports of a network device are assigned to virtual service domains (VSDs). The ports are coupled to a virtual Ethernet module (VEM) of the network device. Each VSD is associated with one or more virtual service engines (VSEs) in a particular order. Each VSE is configured to apply a particular service to traffic traversing the VSE. Traffic received at a virtual Ethernet module (VEM) of the network device that is destined for a particular VSD, and is received on a port that has not been assigned to the particular VSD, is forwarded to the particular VSD via the one or more VSEs associated with the particular VSD such that the traffic traverses the one or more VSEs in the particular order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivas Sardar, Udayakumar Srinivasan, Shankar Ramachandran, Chidambareswaran Raman, Ajit Sanzgiri, Michael R. Smith
  • Apparatus for Improved Vibration Isolation
    Publication number: 20120279816
    Abstract: A vibration isolator having an upper housing defining an upper fluid chamber, a lower housing defining a lower fluid chamber, a piston resiliently disposed within the upper housing and the lower housing, a tuning passage defined by the piston, for providing fluid communication between the upper fluid chamber and the lower fluid chamber, a tuning fluid disposed within the tuning passage, the upper fluid chamber, and the lower fluid chamber. A reservoir in fluid communication with the upper fluid chamber for providing pressurization control of the vibration isolator. An expanded accumulator region for providing Increased pressure retention during maintenance and operation of the vibration isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Frank B. Stamps
  • Method and system for generating user group identifiers
    Patent number: 8302157
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating user group identifiers using a permissions matrix is disclosed. The permissions matrix includes an entry that is associated with a row and a column of the permissions matrix. The row of the permissions matrix is indexed with a first role and the column of the permissions matrix is indexed with a second role. A data structure implementing such a method can include, for example, a user group identifier matrix. Alternatively, a method is disclosed in which the expiration of a user group identifier is detected. In such a case, the user group identifier is updated by accessing a user group identifier matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Smith
  • Method and apparatus for ingress filtering using security group information
    Patent number: 8301882
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for ingress filtering using security group information are disclosed. The method includes performing access control processing on a packet and sending access control information to an ingress node of the packet in response to the access control processing. The access control information includes security group information and an address of a network node. The security group information identifies a security group. The network node is a member of the security group and is a destination of the packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Smith
  • Virtual service domains
    Patent number: 8274973
    Abstract: In one embodiment, layer-2 (L2) ports of a network device may each be assigned to a particular virtual service domain (VSD). One or more virtual service engines (VSEs) may also be assigned in a particular order to each VSD, where each VSE is configured to apply a particular service to traffic traversing the VSE between ingress and egress service ports. Interconnecting the L2 ports and the ingress and egress service ports is an illustrative virtual Ethernet module (VEM), which directs traffic it receives according to rules as follows: a) into a destination VSD via the one or more correspondingly assigned VSEs in the particular order; b) out of a current VSD via the one or more correspondingly assigned VSEs in a reverse order from the particular order; or c) within a current VSD without redirection through a VSE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Sardar, Udayakumar Srinivasan, Shankar Ramachandran, Chidambareswaran Raman, Ajit Sanzgiri, Michael R. Smith
  • Pastillation of ammonium sulfate nitrate
    Patent number: 8268279
    Abstract: Processes are presented for the production of ammonium sulfate nitrate. The processes provide for producing a highly uniform product and having a substantially uniform size. The processes include reacting ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate to form an FASN slurry melt. The slurry melt is continuously stirred and heated to keep the slurry melt under a shear thinned condition and at a uniform temperature until the slurry melt is extruded, cooled and solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Smith
  • Dual Spring Rate Damper
    Publication number: 20120230823
    Abstract: A rotor hub and method to dampen a force exerted on a rotor hub by a rotor blade during flight. The rotor hub including a central member rotatably coupled to a rotor mast, a blade grip rigidly attached to a blade and movably coupled to the central member, and an adjustable damper operably associated with the blade grip. The method includes damping the force exerted on the rotor hub with the adjustable damper and selectively adjusting the adjustable damper between a first spring rate and a second spring rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Michael R. Smith, Christopher M. Bothwell, Lawrence M. Corso, James L. Braswell, JR., David A. Popelka, Ernst C. Schellhase, Charles L. Hollimon, Thomas J. Newman, Bryan Baskin, Thomas C. Campbell, Daniel B. Robertson