Patents by Inventor Patrick Ward

Patrick Ward 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: 20050168308
    Abstract: A resettable switching device, e.g. a relay, comprises a fixed contact (18) and a movable contact (28). A solenoid (12) is fixed relative to the fixed contact and a ferromagnetic plunger (20) carries the movable contact. A spring (24) biases the plunger away from the fixed contact so the device is normally open. When the device is set a further ferromagnetic element, e.g. a plunger (22), holds the first plunger (20) in a closed-contact position by magnetic attraction against the action of the spring (24). When a predetermined current condition exists in the solenoid the magnetic attraction between the element and plunger is reduced below the level necessary to hold the plunger so that the movable contact disengages the fixed contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventor: Patrick Ward
  • Publication number: 20050126220
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for vaporization of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that employ a condensing gas stream to adjust the gross heating value (GHV) of the LNG such that, upon vaporization, a natural gas product is obtained that meets pipeline or other commercial specifications. The condensing gas can be air, nitrogen, or in embodiments, NGLs such as ethane, propane, or butane, or other combustible hydrocarbon such as dimethyl ether (DME) depending on a desired change in GHV. In some embodiments, the methods and systems employ an integrated air separation plant for generation of nitrogen used as a condensing gas, wherein a cool stream of a heat transfer medium, such as water, ethylene glycol, other common heat transfer fluids, or mixtures thereof, obtained by heat transfer during vaporization of the LNG is used to pre-cool an air feed to the air separation plant, or to cool other process streams associated therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventor: Patrick Ward
  • Patent number: 6812639
    Abstract: An end of life quenching device for a vapor lamp preventing damage to the lamp and socket structure. Mica is attached to a lead wire of a filament. As an emission material on the filament is consumed and the vapor lamp reaches the end of its life, the resulting increase in voltage causes an arc. The arc may extend down the lead wire. The hydrated OH group in the mica releases hydrogen, which extinguishes the arc within the vapor lamp. Damage is thereby prevented. The mica withstands the high pressing temperatures required in the manufacture of vapor lamps with quartz envelopes and used to generate ultraviolet radiation in germicidal applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Light Sources, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Ward, William Sax
  • Publication number: 20040156155
    Abstract: A residual current device includes a current transformer CT1 for sensing a differential current flowing in mains supply live L and neutral N conductors and a residual current actuator RCA for disconnecting the supply from a load when the differential current exceeds a predetermined level. The device also includes a circuit for detecting a double grounded neutral fault NF. Such circuit causes a current IZ to flow between the live and neutral conductors on the load LD side of the current transformer, such current being at least intermittently of sufficiently high amplitude and duration as to cause disconnection of the supply by the component of the current IZ flowing through the current transformer in the presence of a double grounded neutral fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Patrick Ward
  • Publication number: 20040090784
    Abstract: A wall-wash light fixture for providing substantially uniform wall illumination includes a light source mounted to direct emitted light to a substantially arcuate kick reflector. The substantially arcuate kick reflector directs the emitted light toward the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Patrick Ward
  • Publication number: 20040051459
    Abstract: An end of life quenching device for a vapor lamp preventing damage to the lamp and socket structure. Mica is attached to a lead wire of a filament. As an emission material on the filament is consumed and the vapor lamp reaches the end of its life, the resulting increase in voltage causes an arc. The arc may extend down the lead wire. The hydrated OH group in the mica releases hydrogen, which extinguishes the arc within the vapor lamp. Damage is thereby prevented. The mica withstands the high pressing temperatures required in the manufacture of vapor lamps with quartz envelopes and used to generate ultraviolet radiation in germicidal applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Patrick Ward, William Sax
  • Publication number: 20030164358
    Abstract: A laser-marking system that emits a laser beam through an acousto-optic deflector and onto a product to form dot-markings on the product. The acousto-optic deflector defects the laser beam depending on the frequency emitted to the acousto-optic deflector. A controller controls the laser to emit a laser beam when desired, and controls a digital frequency synthesizer to emit the desired frequency to the acousto-optic deflector. The user and/or controller may configure the laser-marking system to determine the efficiency of the acousto-optic deflector to determine correct amplitudes of dot frequencies to give the desired dot intensity on a product. Theses amplitudes are stored in memory as dot-marking profiles. The controller access the dot-marking profile to print dot markings onto products as desired. The user and/or the controller may also control scaling, vertical placement and overlapping of dot markings printed onto products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventor: Patrick Ward
  • Publication number: 20020181012
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for remotely enhancing digital images by communication of the digital images over a network to a remote processing facility. More particularly, the digital image routing method includes steps of receiving a digital image packet that includes a digital image and a customer preference parameter and transmitting the digital image packet to a remote digital image editing system selected according to the customer preference parameter. In addition, the digital image routing method may include the steps of enhancing the digital image based on the customer preference parameter, and transmitting an enhanced digital image packet that includes an enhanced digital image and an enhancement description packet that describes the enhancements made for each of the digital images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: David Jeffrey Miller, Jefferson Patrick Ward
  • Patent number: 5690089
    Abstract: A mechanical hand grenade launcher comprised of a launch tube and spring-ven plunger for propelling a hand grenade to a target area. At the aft end of the launcher is a charging handle that when pulled rearward compresses a spring within the launcher tube. When the spring has been sufficiently compressed, the spring is then locked in the cocked position by a safety pin attached to a first lanyard. A hand grenade is loaded through the fore end of the launcher and the grenade's pull pin is attached to a second lanyard. When rearward force is applied to the second lanyard, the grenade pull pin is dislodged from the grenade. To launch the grenade, rearward force is applied to the first lanyard dislodging the safety pin which releases the spring. The force of the expanding spring imparted to the hand grenade propels the hand grenade out of the fore end of the launch tube toward the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: John Patrick Ward
  • Patent number: 5485133
    Abstract: A circuit breaker has at least one pair of electrical contacts of which one contact is mounted for movement relative to the other contact between first and second positions. One of the first and second positions corresponds to the contacts being closed and the other corresponds to the contacts being open. Resilient biassing means urges the one contact into the first position so as to maintain the contacts normally in the condition corresponding thereto. A magnet (such as a solenoid acting in active or passive mode) is capable of holding one contact in the second position against the action of the resilient biassing means, but is demagnetisable to permit the one contact to return to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Tripco Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Ward
  • Patent number: D329313
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventors: Patrick Ward, Judith G. Ward