Patents by Inventor Michael WEHNER

Michael WEHNER 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: 20250109008
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispensing valve for dispensing a fluid, having a housing (13), a main channel (14) which extends therein for the fluid, a main valve which is arranged in the main channel (14) for controlling a fluid throughflow through the dispensing valve, a control device (15) for activating the main valve (20), a component receiving member (16, 16?) which is connected to the housing (13) and which is provided with an inner thread and having an attachment (17, 17?) which is provided with an outer thread, wherein between the inner thread and the outer thread, a thread connection is produced and wherein an axial position of the attachment (17, 17?) can be adjusted by the inner thread being rotated relative to the outer thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan KUNTER, Michael WEHNER, Torben SCHÖRCK, Wolfgang ARTMEIER
  • Patent number: 12264062
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispensing valve for dispensing a fluid, having a housing (13), a main channel (14) which extends therein for the fluid, a main valve which is arranged in the main channel (14) for controlling a fluid throughflow through the dispensing valve, a control device (15) for activating the main valve (20), a component receiving member (16, 16?) which is connected to the housing (13) and which is provided with an inner thread and having an attachment (17, 17?) which is provided with an outer thread, wherein between the inner thread and the outer thread, a thread connection is produced and wherein an axial position of the attachment (17, 17?) can be adjusted by the inner thread being rotated relative to the outer thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ELAFLEX HIBY GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Kunter, Michael Wehner, Torben Schörck, Wolfgang Artmeier
  • Publication number: 20240225940
    Abstract: In at least one aspect, there is provided a system for generating force about one or more joints including a soft exosuit having a plurality of anchor elements and at least one connection element disposed between the plurality of anchor elements. The system also includes at least one sensor to determine a force the at least one connection element or at least one of the plurality of anchor elements and to output signals relating to the force, at least one actuator configured to change a tension in the soft exosuit and at least one controller configured to receive the signals output from the at least one sensor and actuate the at least one actuator responsive to the received signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Alan Thomas Asbeck, Ye Ding, Robert Joseph Dyer, Ignacio Galiana Bujanda, Arnar Freyr Larusson, Brendan Thomas Quinlivan, Kai Schmidt, Diana Wagner, Conor J. Walsh, Michael Wehner
  • Patent number: 11845407
    Abstract: A cart cleaning machine has a foundation, a dock, a movable gantry, and a bellow assembly. The foundation has a cart path spanning the length of the foundation between a first end and a second end. Two side channels are also provided. A dock is stationarily mounted to the foundation. The dock has the shape of an inverted U to allow carts to pass through. The dock has a controller, a water inlet, an electrical hookup, a chemical station, and line management devices. The movable gantry is movable with respect to the foundation. It has a drive mechanism with sprockets that interact with bands spanning between the foundation ends. The gantry has spray nozzles and blow off openings. The bellow assembly is between the dock and the gantry. Water and electric lines pass through the bellow assembly and span between the dock and movable gantry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Alliance Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: David Nicholas van Zon, John Michael Wehner, Jason Daniel Krug, Kenneth John Manninen
  • Patent number: 11725749
    Abstract: A passive microfluidic valve includes a first manifold portion having a first chamber; a first inlet fluidly coupled to the first chamber; and a second inlet. The valve also includes a second manifold portion in fluid communication with the first chamber via a channel. The second manifold portion includes a second chamber fluidly coupled to the first chamber and the second inlet. The valve further includes a flexible membrane disposed between the first manifold portion and the second manifold portion and separating the first chamber and the second chamber, the flexible membrane configured to modulate a flow rate of a media flowing between the first inlet and the second inlet in either direction in response to pressure of the media flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Michael Wehner, Keng-Yu Lin, Natalie King
  • Publication number: 20230158685
    Abstract: A method and system for sensing using a soft robotic system. The method and system uses displacement and/or deformation of elastomeric components, fibers, or liquids in the soil robotic system to change a visual state which is recordable in images by a digital camera. The displacement or deformation, or force applied to the soft robotic system is measured by analyzing the images using machine vision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Keng-Yu Lin, Arturo Gamboa-Gonzalez, Michael Wehner
  • Patent number: 11464700
    Abstract: In at least one aspect, there is provided a system for generating force about one or more joints including a soft exosuit having a plurality of anchor elements and at least one connection element disposed between the plurality of anchor elements. The system also includes at least one sensor to determine a force the at least one connection element or at least one of the plurality of anchor elements and to output signals relating to the force, at least one actuator configured to change a tension in the soft exosuit and at least one controller configured to receive the signals output from the at least one sensor and actuate the at least one actuator responsive to the received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Alan Thomas Asbeck, Ye Ding, Robert Joseph Dyer, Ignacio Galiana Bujanda, Arnar Freyr Larusson, Brendan Thomas Quinlivan, Kai Schmidt, Diana Wagner, Conor J. Walsh, Michael Wehner
  • Publication number: 20220136618
    Abstract: A passive microfluidic valve includes a first manifold portion having a first chamber; a first inlet fluidly coupled to the first chamber; and a second inlet. The valve also includes a second manifold portion in fluid communication with the first chamber via a channel. The second manifold portion includes a second chamber fluidly coupled to the first chamber and the second inlet. The valve further includes a flexible membrane disposed between the first manifold portion and the second manifold portion and separating the first chamber and the second chamber, the flexible membrane configured to modulate a flow rate of a media flowing between the first inlet and the second inlet in either direction in response to pressure of the media flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Wehner, Keng-Yu Lin, Natalie King
  • Patent number: 11014804
    Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating 3D soft microstructures. The system comprises injecting a pressurized, curable liquid into certain structural layers induces folding and allows the 2D structures to reconfigure into a 3D form In addition to the injection of a curable liquid that permanently reconfigures the structure of the system, in an embodiment this method also allows for the injection of other liquids into certain actuator layers that enable motion in certain portions of the system Furthermore, the system allows for handling of colored fluids that are passed to visualization layers. The method of creating such a system depends on taking advantage of laser machining of the individual layers to influence the behavior of how different portions bend and move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Bartlett, Tommaso Ranzani, Sheila Russo, Conor J. Walsh, Michael Wehner, Robert J. Wood
  • Publication number: 20200079643
    Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating 3D soft microstructures. The system comprises injecting a pressurized, curable liquid into certain structural layers induces folding and allows the 2D structures to reconfigure into a 3D form In addition to the injection of a curable liquid that permanently reconfigures the structure of the system, in an embodiment this method also allows for the injection of other liquids into certain actuator layers that enable motion in certain portions of the system Furthermore, the system allows for handling of colored fluids that are passed to visualization layers. The method of creating such a system depends on taking advantage of laser machining of the individual layers to influence the behavior of how different portions bend and move.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Bartlett, Tommaso Ranzani, Sheila Russo, Conor J. Walsh, Michael Wehner, Robert J. Wood
  • Patent number: 10427293
    Abstract: In at least one aspect, there is provided a system for generating force about one or more joints including a soft exosuit having a plurality of anchor elements and at least one connection element disposed between the plurality of anchor elements. The system also includes at least one sensor to determine a force the at least one connection element or at least one of the plurality of anchor elements and to output signals relating to the force, at least one actuator configured to change a tension in the soft exosuit and at least one controller configured to receive the signals output from the at least one sensor and actuate the at least one actuator responsive to the received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Prisident and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Alan Thomas Asbeck, Ignacio Galiana Bujanda, Ye Ding, Robert Joseph Dyer, Arnar Freyr Larusson, Brendan Thomas Quinlivan, Kai Schmidt, Diana Wagner, Conor J. Walsh, Michael Wehner
  • Publication number: 20160220438
    Abstract: In at least one aspect, there is provided a system for generating force about one or more joints including a soft exosuit having a plurality of anchor elements and at least one connection element disposed between the plurality of anchor elements. The system also includes at least one sensor to determine a force the at least one connection element or at least one of the plurality of anchor elements and to output signals relating to the force, at least one actuator configured to change a tension in the soft exosuit and at least one controller configured to receive the signals output from the at least one sensor and actuate the at least one actuator responsive to the received signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Conor Walsh, Alan Thomas Asbeck, Ignacio Galiana Bujanda, Ye Ding, Robert Joseph Dyer, Arnar Freyr Larusson, Brandan Thomas Quinlivan, Kai Schmidt, Diana Wagner, Michael Wehner
  • Patent number: 9351900
    Abstract: In at least one aspect, there is provided a system for generating force about one or more joints including a soft exosuit having a plurality of anchor elements and at least one connection element disposed between the plurality of anchor elements. The system also includes at least one sensor to determine a force the at least one connection element or at least one of the plurality of anchor elements and to output signals relating to the force, at least one actuator configured to change a tension in the soft exosuit and at least one controller configured to receive the signals output from the at least one sensor and actuate the at least one actuator responsive to the received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Conor Walsh, Alan Thomas Asbeck, Ignacio Galiana Bujanda, Ye Ding, Robert Joseph Dyer, Arnar Freyr Larusson, Brendan Thomas Quinlivan, Kai Schmidt, Diana Wagner, Michael Wehner
  • Publication number: 20150321339
    Abstract: In at least one aspect, there is provided a system for generating force about one or more joints including a soft exosuit having a plurality of anchor elements and at least one connection element disposed between the plurality of anchor elements. The system also includes at least one sensor to determine a force the at least one connection element or at least one of the plurality of anchor elements and to output signals relating to the force, at least one actuator configured to change a tension in the soft exosuit and at least one controller configured to receive the signals output from the at least one sensor and actuate the at least one actuator responsive to the received signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Alan Thomas Asbeck, Ignacio Galiana Bujanda, Ye Ding, Robert Joseph Dyer, Arnar Freyr Larusson, Brendan Thomas Quinlivan, Kai Schmidt, Diana Wagner, Conor Walsh, Michael Wehner
  • Publication number: 20150173993
    Abstract: In at least one aspect, there is provided a system for generating force about one or more joints including a soft exosuit having a plurality of anchor elements and at least one connection element disposed between the plurality of anchor elements. The system also includes at least one sensor to determine a force the at least one connection element or at least one of the plurality of anchor elements and to output signals relating to the force, at least one actuator configured to change a tension in the soft exosuit and at least one controller configured to receive the signals output from the at least one sensor and actuate the at least one actuator responsive to the received signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Conor Walsh, Alan Thomas Asbeck, Ignacio Galiana Bujanda, Ye Ding, Robert Joseph Dyer, Arnar Freyr Larusson, Brendan Thomas Quinlivan, Kai Schmidt, Diana Wagner, Michael Wehner
  • Patent number: 8863791
    Abstract: A fuel hose nozzle for filling a tank having a filler the tank with liquefied petroleum gas has a tubular valve housing extending along an axis and having an outer end, a tubular valve guide axially shiftable in the valve housing between a front position and a rear position and forming an outlet port adjacent the outer end, and a valve in the housing movable between an open position permitting fluid flow into the valve guide toward the outlet end and a closed position preventing such flow. A valve piston in the valve guide and axially fixed in the valve housing is engaged in the front position of the valve guide with the port to block flow through same. A fitting sleeve surrounding and axially shiftable on the valve housing has at the outer end an end fitting complementary to the tank filler neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Elaflex Hiby Tanktechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Achim Aehle, Stefan Kunter, Heinz-Ulrich Meyer, Michael Wehner
  • Publication number: 20110186176
    Abstract: A fuel hose nozzle for filling a tank having a filler the tank with liquefied petroleum gas has a tubular valve housing extending along an axis and having an outer end, a tubular valve guide axially shiftable in the valve housing between a front position and a rear position and forming an outlet port adjacent the outer end, and a valve in the housing movable between an open position permitting fluid flow into the valve guide toward the outlet end and a closed position preventing such flow. A valve piston in the valve guide and axially fixed in the valve housing is engaged in the front position of the valve guide with the port to block flow through same. A fitting sleeve surrounding and axially shiftable on the valve housing has at the outer end an end fitting complementary to the tank filler neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Achim AEHLE, Stefan KUNTER, Heinz-Ulrich MEYER, Michael WEHNER