Patents by Inventor Michael R. Walker

Michael R. Walker 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: 8542720
    Abstract: Improvements in the detection of TWACS outbound message signals. A first improvement involves matching some (or all) of the intermediate points in an outbound preamble occurring between bits of the preamble currently being detected. This reduces the possibility of a false synchronization and therefore decreases the probability of missing outbound message signals. A second improvement is to require some or all of the known preamble bits to exceed a predetermined threshold where both the thresh-old and which bits are adjustable. An additional approach is using 4-8 additional buffers in a transponder to detect preamble patterns in the outbound message. Each half cycle of the outbound message waveform requires entering a bit only into the buffers active for the particular frame of reference in which the message is being transmitted, since only buffers for that frame of reference are employed. The process continues until all bits specified to be sent, based on the length of the outbound message, are extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Aclara Power-Line Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Quentin H. Spencer, John B. Hessling, Jr., Benjamin A. Hammond, Dennis L. Kelley, David W. Rieken, William J. Davis, Michael R. Walker, II
  • Patent number: 8453824
    Abstract: Arrangements are for use with interconnected conveyor sections, such as push beams, commonly found in mining applications. In one embodiment, a mechanism includes an elongated dog-bone shaped coupler having a first and second end for insertion between the conveyor sections. A first end of the coupler is secured to a first conveyor section, while a second end of the coupler is received in a recess formed in a second conveyor section. A pivotally mounted cam includes a recess for mating with the upwardly projecting, flared portion of the second end of the coupler. The cam pivots automatically upon being engaged by a free end of the coupler to allow it to pass and then pivots to capture it in place, thereby simply establishing a secure manner of connection. In another, the ends of the conveyor sections are specially adapted to form an articulating joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: American Highwall Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Webb, Michael R. Walker
  • Publication number: 20120080293
    Abstract: Arrangements are for use with interconnected conveyor sections, such as push beams, commonly found in mining applications. In one embodiment, a mechanism includes an elongated dog-bone shaped coupler having a first and second end for insertion between the conveyor sections. A first end of the coupler is secured to a first conveyor section, while a second end of the coupler is received in a recess formed in a second conveyor section. A pivotally mounted cam includes a recess for mating with the upwardly projecting, flared portion of the second end of the coupler. The cam pivots automatically upon being engaged by a free end of the coupler to allow it to pass and then pivots to capture it in place, thereby simply establishing a secure manner of connection. In another, the ends of the conveyor sections are specially adapted to form an articulating joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Phillip A. Webb, Michael R. Walker
  • Patent number: 8104607
    Abstract: Arrangements are for use with interconnected conveyor sections, such as push beams, commonly found in mining applications. In one embodiment a mechanism includes an elongated dog-bone shaped coupler having a first and second end for insertion between the conveyor sections. A first end of the coupler is secured to a first conveyor section, while a second end of the coupler is received in a recess formed in a second conveyor section. A pivotally mounted cam includes a recess for mating with the upwardly projecting, flared portion of the second end of the coupler. The cam pivots automatically upon being engaged by a free end of the coupler to allow it to pass and then pivots to capture it in place, thereby simply establishing a secure manner of connection. In another, the ends of the conveyor sections are specially adapted to form an articulating joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: American Highwall Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Webb, Michael R. Walker
  • Patent number: 8074792
    Abstract: Arrangements are for use with interconnected conveyor sections, such as push beams, commonly found in mining applications. In one embodiment, a mechanism includes an elongated dog-bone shaped coupler having a first and second end for insertion between the conveyor sections. A first end of the coupler is secured to a first conveyor section, while a second end of the coupler is received in a recess formed in a second conveyor section. A pivotally mounted cam includes a recess for mating with the upwardly projecting, flared portion of the second end of the coupler. The cam pivots automatically upon being engaged by a free end of the coupler to allow it to pass and then pivots to capture it in place, thereby simply establishing a secure manner of connection. In another, the ends of the conveyor sections are specially adapted to form an articulating joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: American Highwall Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Webb, Michael R. Walker
  • Publication number: 20110138607
    Abstract: Arrangements are for use with interconnected conveyor sections, such as push beams, commonly found in mining applications. In one embodiment, a mechanism includes an elongated dog-bone shaped coupler having a first and second end for insertion between the conveyor sections. A first end of the coupler is secured to a first conveyor section, while a second end of the coupler is received in a recess formed in a second conveyor section. A pivotally mounted cam includes a recess for mating with the upwardly projecting, flared portion of the second end of the coupler. The cam pivots automatically upon being engaged by a free end of the coupler to allow it to pass and then pivots to capture it in place, thereby simply establishing a secure manner of connection. In another, the ends of the conveyor sections are specially adapted to form an articulating joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Phillip A. Webb, Michael R. Walker
  • Publication number: 20100124288
    Abstract: Improvements in the detection of TWACS outbound message signals. A first improvement involves matching some (or all) of the intermediate points in an outbound preamble occurring between bits of the preamble currently being detected. This reduces the possibility of a false synchronization and therefore decreases the probability of missing outbound message signals. A second improvement is to require some or all of the known preamble bits to exceed a predetermined threshold where both the thresh-old and which bits are adjustable. An additional approach is using 4-8 additional buffers in a transponder to detect preamble patterns in the outbound message. Each half cycle of the outbound message waveform requires entering a bit only into the buffers active for the particular frame of reference in which the message is being transmitted, since only buffers for that frame of reference are employed. The process continues until all bits specified to be sent, based on the length of the outbound message, are extracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Quentin H. Spencer, John B. Hessling, JR., Benjamin A. Hammond, Dennis L. Kelley, David W. Rieken, William J. Davis, Michael R. Walker, II
  • Publication number: 20090085395
    Abstract: Arrangements are for use with interconnected conveyor sections, such as push beams, commonly found in mining applications. In one embodiment a mechanism includes an elongated dog-bone shaped coupler having a first and second end for insertion between the conveyor sections. A first end of the coupler is secured to a first conveyor section, while a second end of the coupler is received in a recess formed in a second conveyor section. A pivotally mounted cam includes a recess for mating with the upwardly projecting, flared portion of the second end of the coupler. The cam pivots automatically upon being engaged by a free end of the coupler to allow it to pass and then pivots to capture it in place, thereby simply establishing a secure manner of connection. In another, the ends of the conveyor sections are specially adapted to form an articulating joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Phillip A. Webb, Michael R. Walker
  • Patent number: 7286857
    Abstract: In-vehicle operation of a wireless communication system handset is enhanced by using a handset controller having large keys and a large display. The controller is mounted in the vehicle so that the keys and the display are accessible by a user while seated in the vehicle driver's seat. The keys and display are backlighted to improve visibility. The controller warns the user in the motor vehicle that the handset is disconnected from the controller. The controller accepts verbal commands to operate the handset and outputs messages received by the handset and other information associated with handset operation as synthesized speech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: AT Road, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Walker, Sean D. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6231034
    Abstract: A door mounting tool is used for mounting a door to a door jamb and includes a frame having a base frame member for holding the base of a door and an end frame member hingedly attached to the base frame member for holding one edge of a door. A plurality of door holding members are movably attached to the frame for locking the door to the base frame member and to the end frame member. A plurality of side support members may be either hingedly or fixedly attached to the side of the base frame member and each has an adjustable leg extending therefrom for adjusting the height of the base frame member adjacent a door jamb. There is at least one wheel mounted to the base frame member at one end thereof for rolling the frame therein when a door is attached thereto so that a door can be mounted to the door mounting tool and positioned for hanging the door to a door jamb and for moving the door around a job site like a door cart or dolly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventors: Michael R. Walker, James R. Walker
  • Patent number: 5779321
    Abstract: A swing tail assembly rotates a swing tail conveyor relative to a miner conveyor including a mounting assembly mounting a drive arrangement on a swing tail conveyor. The drive arrangement includes a hydraulic motor, a differential planetary speed reducer and a sprocket connected to said differential planetary speed reducer. A fixed pin/rack arrangement is connected to the fan section of the miner conveyor and the sprocket cooperates with the pin/rack arrangement to rotate the swing tail conveyor relative to the miner conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Arch Technology Corporation
    Inventors: George E. Coleman, Michael R. Walker
  • Patent number: 5611499
    Abstract: A yarn tensioning device 10 having three pairs of spring loaded tensioning disks 20 that exert an increasing incremental pressure on the yarn 12 which correlates to the tension in the yarn. The three pairs of tensioning disks 20 are mounted on the front side 42 of a bracket 40 around a post 90. The three posts 90 are coupled together on the back side 44 of the bracket 40 by a back plate 100. A threaded rod 108 is inserted through a center hole 48 in the bracket 40 and threadably engages the back plate 100, such that as the threaded rod 108 is rotated, the back plate 100 moves towards or away from the bracket 40. As the back plate 100 moves away from bracket 40 the posts 90 gets closer to the tensioning disks 20, thus increasing the amount of pressure exerted on the tension disks 20 by the springs 70.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Epic Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Stokes, Michael R. Walker
  • Patent number: 5597384
    Abstract: A coding scheme associates multiple codes with one or more of the components of a prosthetic implant system in order to indicate the compatibility among the mating components. It is thus possible for operating room personnel to quickly and accurately select components and verify their compatibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Walker, Timothy R. Miller
  • Patent number: 5393937
    Abstract: A control system for a bi-directional shuttlecar having a loading end and a discharge end. A conveyor extends along the shuttlecar from the loading end to the discharge end, and a pressure sensing transducer is located at the loading end and an independent pressure sensing transducer is located at the discharge end. The pressure sensing transducers are connected in an electric circuit with programmable logic controller which also includes a drive motor for the conveyor and a controller for the drive motor. The weight of mined material supported on the conveyor at the loading end of the vehicle is sensed by the pressure sensing transducer at the loading end and creates a signal for transmission to the programmable logic controller to start the movement of the conveyor and the weight of the mined material at the discharge end of the vehicle is sensed by the pressure transducer at the discharge end and creates a signal for transmission to the programmable logic controller to stop the movement of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Dosco Overseas Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Etherington, Michael R. Walker
  • Patent number: 5387073
    Abstract: An elongated hopper for unloading a haulage vehicle for mined material has a length at least equal to the length of the haulage vehicle. The elongated hopper has a plurality of connected sections and each section has a horizontal conveyor pan with an L-shaped side member pivotally connected to each edge. A conveyor extends throughout the length of the hopper. The haulage vehicle is driven into the hopper through the inlet end prior to unloading and mined material is continuously discharged from the haulage vehicle onto the conveyor in the hopper as the haulage vehicle is driven out of the inlet end of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Dosco Overseas Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Etherington, Michael R. Walker
  • Patent number: 5148920
    Abstract: A package for a product includes a receptacle containing an opening and defining a space for the product and an insert defining an aperture for the product. When the product is fitted into the insert and the insert is fitted into the receptacle, a portion of the insert is between the product and the opening, thereby providing positive restraint to motion of the product relative to the insert toward the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Walker
  • Patent number: 5090571
    Abstract: A separate protective liner for sterile medical device containers comprises a bottom, walls and a lid to encapsulate the medical device. The lid and walls cooperate to form an interference fit thereby maintaining the lid in a closed position without the need for any additional lid closure mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Walker