Patents by Inventor Ralph P. Poor

Ralph P. Poor 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: 8939457
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a frame having a drive member supported for rotation thereon. A handlebar is supported for pivotal movement relative to the frame. A drive mechanism is provided on the frame that is configured to rotate the drive member in a first rotational direction when the handlebar is pivoted in either a first direction using a push-stroke or a second direction using a pull-stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Ralph P. Poor
  • Patent number: 8293167
    Abstract: A system for treating metallic articles in an atmospheric furnace while injecting at least one fluid material within the furnace and/or in a catalyst bed connected to the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Bernard, Ralph P. Poor, Garry W. Barbee, John W. Gottschalk
  • Publication number: 20080302281
    Abstract: A system for treating metallic articles in an atmospheric furnace while injecting at least one fluid material within the furnace and/or in a catalyst bed connected to the furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: William J. Bernard, Ralph P. Poor, Garry W. Barbee, John W. Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 7267793
    Abstract: Vacuum carburizing of ferrous workpieces is performed at low pressure in a vacuum furnace using an unsaturated aromatic such as benzene as the carburizing medium. The unsaturated aromatic is gas phase hydrogenated into naphthenes, such as cyclohexane, which is metered into the furnace chamber proper and functions as the carburizing gas. The furnace is constructed to be generally transparent to the naphthenes so that cracking tends to occur at the workpiece which functions as a catalyst to minimize carbon deposits. The unsaturated aromatic is supplied in liquid form to fuel injectors which inject the liquid aromatic as a vapor at duty cycles and firing orders to produce a uniform dispersion of the hydrocarbon gas about the work resulting in uniform carburizing of the workpieces. An in-situ methane infrared sensor controls the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph P. Poor, Gary W. Barbee, Stephen H. Verhoff, James E. Brug
  • Patent number: 7204952
    Abstract: Vacuum carburizing of ferrous workpieces is performed at low pressure in a vacuum furnace using a carburizing hydrocarbon as the carburizing medium. The furnace is constructed to be generally transparent to the carburizing hydrocarbon so that cracking tends to occur at the workpiece which functions as a catalyst to minimize carbon deposits. The carburizing hydrocarbon is supplied in liquid form to an injector which injects the liquid carburizing hydrocarbon as a vapor to produce a uniform dispersion of the carburizing hydrocarbon about the workpiece, resulting in uniform carburizing of the workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph P. Poor, Gary W. Barbee, Stephen H. Verhoff, James E. Brug
  • Patent number: 5364476
    Abstract: A variable gas generator is disclosed which is capable of producing a wide variety of product gas compositions heretofore produced only by either exothermic gas generators or endothermic gas generators or a combination of gas generators. The variable gas generator includes a nitrogen membrane module producing a nitrogen-oxygen feed gas which is combined with a hydrocarbon fuel and fed into a conventional endothermic gas generator. By controlling the nitrogen membrane module to produce a desired oxygen-nitrogen feed gas and by controlling the addition of methane and the catalyst bed temperature of the gas within the endothermic generator, a wide variety of product gas composition with carbon potential varying anywhere from one to 80% combustibles can be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph P. Poor, Michael J. Huber
  • Patent number: 5211820
    Abstract: A system for use in sensing the oxygen content of an industrial furnace gas typically containing hydrocarbons or hydrogen is disclosed. The system utilizes a conventional automotive EGR oxygen sensor probe positioned in an especially configured housing employing downstream flow regulating means in combination with an orificing plate in the housing to provide uniform distribution of the endothermic gas at a low temperature about the sensor to insure accurate sensor readings with minimal carbon deposition. The electrical contacts at the oxygen sensor's inner and outer electrolyte surfaces are periodically switched to an electrical power supply to cause current to flow through and heat the electrolyte to elevated temperatures while air is flowed over the electrolyte's surfaces to achieve burn out of any carbon deposits and restore the life of the oxygen sensor probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph P. Poor, Michael J. Huber, Garry W. Barbee
  • Patent number: 5137616
    Abstract: A system for use in sensing the oxygen content of an industrial furnace gas typically containing hydrocarbons or hydrogen is disclosed. The system utilizes a conventional automotive EGR oxygen sensor probe positioned in an especially configured housing employing downstream flow regulating means in combination with an orificing plate in the housing to provide uniform distribution of the endothermic gas at a low temperature about the sensor to insure accurate sensor readings with minimal carbon deposition. The electrical contacts at the oxygen sensor's inner and outer electrolyte surfaces are periodically switched to an electrical power supply to cause current to flow through and heat the electrolyte to elevated temperatures while air is flowed over the electrolyte's surfaces to achieve burn out of any carbon deposits and restore the life of the oxygen sensor probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph P. Poor, Michael J. Huber, Garry W. Barbee