Patents by Inventor Michael Shepherd

Michael Shepherd 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).

  • Publication number: 20070106736
    Abstract: A method for sending electronic mail messages having differing content and attachments associated with the various recipients of the electronic mail message includes composing an electronic mail message and differentiating those component(s) to be sent to the various recipients. Recipient transmittal directions, in the form of electronic mail addresses, aliases, or distribution lists are associated with the differing content and attachments for each recipient. The electronic message is parsed to create an individual message for each recipient, such that each individual message includes a differentiated component(s), and is then transmitted over a computer network to the various recipients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventor: Michael Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20060272200
    Abstract: The present lipid-based wax compositions commonly include a polyol fatty acid ester component (made up of partial and/or completely esterified polyols). Generally, at least a portion of the polyol fatty acid ester has been subjected to a transesterification reaction. Lipid-based wax compositions having a melting point of about 48° C. to about 75° C. can be particularly advantageous for use in forming candles. The wax may contain other components such as mineral wax, plant wax, insect wax, and/or other components. The polyol fatty acid ester component can include triacylglycerols such as those derived from plant oils (soybean oil, palm oil, etc.). The polyol ester component may be characterized based on one or more of its physical characteristics, such as SFI-40, SFI-10, typical crystal structure, IV, melting curve, and/or other properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: Timothy Murphy, Michael Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20060242002
    Abstract: A method and system for translating a JDF workflow into a colored Petri net representation. Once the workflow has been converted, the colored Petri net is validated and analyzed. This provides the ability to identify potential deadlock conditions within a JDF workflow. In addition, the model network can be used to simulate throughput and turnaround time of a workflow and the effects of resources arriving at various times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Tong Sun, Raju Gottumukkala, Michael Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20060242097
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing a knowledge base system storing a plurality of data instances, each data instance including at least one field, each field having at least one item and provided with an associated field type indicating whether the field is allowed to have only a single item or multiple items. At least one large itemset is determined by generating a plurality of itemsets formed of possible combinations of items selected from items corresponding to fields of the stored data instances. Itemsets having a combination of more than one item corresponding to a field having an associated field type indicating that the field is allowed to have only a single value are eliminated. The remaining itemsets are processed for generating associate rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Xue Gu, Tong Sun, Alan Cote, Michael Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20050232871
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inhaled formulation comprising a compound selected from a particular class of 5,6-dihydro-9H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyridines which is capable of delivering the compound as fine, solid particles to the lung and the use of such a formulation in the treatment of certain diseases such as respiratory diseases. By the use of such formulations, it is possible to eliminate the unwanted cough response associated with the use of these compounds in solution metered dose inhalers, which response can prevent the administration of a therapeutically effective dose and, in the long term, undermine patient compliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Humphrey, Paul Miller, Michael Shepherd
  • Patent number: 4573559
    Abstract: An electric motor construction particularly for subway train electric motors which utilize fan induced air cooling to cool the motor windings. The invention exhibits utility in saving power to drive the fan. The fan is coupled to the motor armature by a fluid coupling. The fluid coupling is so constructed that at relatively high temperatures the torque delivered to the fan by the motor armature does not increase proportionally or correspondingly as at relatively low rotor speeds. On one embodiment, a fluid coupling utilizing variation of shear liquid viscosity with both temperature and shear rate is employed. In a second embodiment, the amount of fluid in the fluid coupling is varied with variations in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: Wallace Murray Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Shepherd
  • Patent number: 4441598
    Abstract: A shear fluid, temperature responsive fan drive coupling for the radiator cooling fan of an internal combustion engine. The drive coupling, conventionally, carries a temperature responsive valve which controls the degree of rotary coupling between the engine and the radiator cooling fan by controlling the quantity of shear fluid between a driving disc and a driven housing carrying the fan. The disc and the housing are parts of the coupling. The specific improvement of this invention relates to the provision of accumulator grooves in the walls of the drive chamber. These grooves allow an increase in the volume of shear (torque-transmitting) liquid in the coupling. The coupling exhibits modulated torque transmitting action in passing from partial to full engagement as temperature is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Wallace Murray Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Shepherd
  • Patent number: 4403757
    Abstract: A modulating fluid shear coupling apparatus is disclosed herein which comprises a driving member mounted within a working chamber defined by a driven member and rotatable coaxial with the driven member. The driving and driven members include complementary shear surfaces to effect torque transmission between the two members when shear fluid is received between the shear surfaces. The driven member defines a reservoir and includes a passageway leading from the reservoir to the working chamber. At least two annular grooves are defined by the driven member and open into the working chamber adjacent the driving member at different radial positions. The annular grooves and associated passageways leading from the grooves to the reservoir provide for pumping the shear fluid from the working chamber back to the reservoir. Various control means are provided for selectively opening and closing the various passageways to yield several different degrees of coupling between the driving and driven members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Wallace Murray Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Shepherd
  • Patent number: 4341130
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper of the type having an inertia ring member and a hub member coupled together by an elastomer member. The hub member may be in the form of a disc and is adapted to be coupled to a rotating shaft subject to torsional vibrations, the elastomer and inertia ring member acting in a known manner to damp torsional vibrations. According to this invention a seal, termed a dust and oil slinger, is mounted on the hub. The seal overlies the elastomer and protects it from dust or other particles and from corrosive fumes and liquids. The seal may additional serve as a sacrificial member which will, in certain corrosive ambients, degrade prior to degradation of the elastomer connecting the hub and inertia ring. The seal is either integral with the working elastomer member, or is formed by adhering to the working elastomer member a sealing material of a different composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Assignee: Wallace Murray Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Shepherd, Robert C. Bremer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4302986
    Abstract: An elastomer torsional vibration damper having a hub of low mass. The hub is preferably formed of a rigid plastic such as a phenol-formaldehyde, or of glass filled nylon. According to the invention, the hub is formed of a material having a minimum specific volume of 12 cubic inches per pound to thereby reduce the parasitic inertia of the torsional vibration damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: Wallace Murray Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Shepherd
  • Patent number: 4178811
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper of the type having an outer inertia ring, a radially intermediate elastomer annulus, and a radially innermost hub. The polar moment of inertia of the entire damper is reduced by forming the hub of a low density material such as aluminum or plastic. The specific improvement resides in metal reinforcing members molded or otherwise inserted into the hub, thus overcoming material weakness and the phenomenon of creep in the plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Assignee: Wallace Murray Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Shepherd