Patents by Inventor Richard A. Ales

Richard A. Ales 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: 20150252922
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for mechanically attached connections of conduits may include a conduit gripping member, a drive member, and a seal member, the drive member causing axial movement of the conduit gripping member to indent into an outer surface of the conduit when the assembly is pulled-up, the drive member causing the seal member to form a zero clearance seal at a location that is axially spaced from the conduit gripping member. The zero clearance seal may comprise a face seal arrangement including a gasket, and the conduit gripping member may be a ferrule, ring or other device that can grip and optionally seal against the conduit outer surface. The assembly may include a sensing function for detecting or sensing a characteristic or condition of an assembly component or the fluid or both. In one embodiment, a body coupling member has a two piece construction of a main body and a conduit socket insert. A flared fitting embodiment is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Arthur Frank Anton, Michael Ray Butkovic, Johan Jan Goemans, Kevin Mracek, Dale C. Arstein, Franziska H. Dacek, John D. Karkosiak, Jeffrey Michael Rubinski, David Bryan O'Connor, David E. O'Connor, Nicholas Raney Lubar, Gerhard H. Schiroky, Mark A. Bennett, Theodore J. Gausman, Andrew P. Marshall, Larry Dean Vandendriessche, Sylvia Antoinette Bon, William H. Glime, III, Michael Jerome Mohlenkamp, Peter C. Williams, Richard A. Ales, Steven W. Moore, Sunniva R. Collins
  • Publication number: 20140034619
    Abstract: A purging arrangement for a welding system uses automatic flow control function, such as an MFC, to control purge gas flow rate and/or pressure at the weld site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Kevin Silk, Richard A. Ales, William Ponikvar, Michael Mussig, David N. Stafford
  • Publication number: 20130270814
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for mechanically attached connections of conduits may include a conduit gripping member, a drive member, and a seal member, the drive member causing axial movement of the conduit gripping member to indent into an outer surface of the conduit when the assembly is pulled-up, the drive member causing the seal member to form a zero clearance seal at a location that is axially spaced from the conduit gripping member. The zero clearance seal may comprise a face seal arrangement including a gasket, and the conduit gripping member may be a ferrule, ring or other device that can grip and optionally seal against the conduit outer surface. The assembly may include a sensing function for detecting or sensing a characteristic or condition of an assembly component or the fluid or both. In one embodiment, a body coupling member has a two piece construction of a main body and a conduit socket insert. A flared fitting embodiment is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Arthur Frank Anton, Michael Ray Butkovic, Johan Jan Goemans, Kevin Mracek, Dale C. Arstein, Franziska H. Dacek, John D. Karkosiak, Jeffrey Michael Rubinski, David Bryan O'Connor, David E. O'Connor, Nicholas Raney Lubar, Gerhard H. Schiroky, Mark A. Bennett, Theodore J. Gausman, Andrew P. Marshall, Larry Dean Vandendriessche, Sylvia Antoinette Bon, William H. Glime, III, Michael Jerome Mohlenkamp, Peter C. Williams, Richard A. Ales, Steven W. Moore, Sunniva R. Collins
  • Patent number: 8530777
    Abstract: Purge gas apparatus and method for a welding system uses automatic purge gas flow control function, such as an MFC, to control ID and/or OD purge gas flow rate or purge gas pressure or both at the weld site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Kevin Silk, Richard A. Ales, William Ponikvar, Michael Mussig, David N. Stafford
  • Patent number: 8439404
    Abstract: Mechanically attached connections for conduits may include a conduit gripping member and first and second connection members. The first and second connection members may be, for example, a nut member and a body member where the connection members cause axial movement of the conduit gripping member to grip and seal the conduit when the assembly is pulled-up. The mechanically attached connection may include a sensing function for detecting or sensing a condition or characteristic of at least one of the following: the mechanically attached connection, one or more of the connection members, the fluid contained by the mechanically attached connection, or a combination thereof. The sensing function may be, for example, a sensor that is integrated with at least one of the nut member and the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Arthur Frank Anton, Michael Ray Butkovic, Johan Jan Goemans, Kevin Mracek, Dale C. Arstein, Franziska H. Dacek, John D. Karkosiak, Jeffrey Michael Rubinski, David Bryan O'Connor, David E. O'Connor, Nicholas Raney Lubar, Gerhard H. Schiroky, Mark A. Bennett, Theodore J. Gausman, Andrew P. Marshall, Larry Dean Vandendriessche, Sylvia Antionette Bon, William H. Glime, III, Michael Jerome Mohlenkamp, Peter C. Williams, Richard A. Ales, Stephen W. Moore, Sunniva R. Collins
  • Patent number: 8129659
    Abstract: A DC arc start function for a welder. The arc start function is realized using a universal input DC regulator coupled to a DC to DC converter that produces a regulated DC voltage that is sufficient to strike an arc at an electrode of the welder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Kevin C. Silk, Richard A. Ales
  • Publication number: 20100320755
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for mechanically attached connections of conduits may include a conduit gripping member (34), a drive member (36), and a seal member (48), the drive member (36) causing axial movement of the conduit gripping member (34) to indent into an outer surface of the conduit when the assembly is pulled-up, the drive member (36) causing the seal member (48) to form a zero clearance seal at a location that is axially spaced from the conduit gripping member (34). The zero clearance seal may comprise a face seal arrangement including a gasket (48), and the conduit gripping member (34) may be a ferrule, ring or other device that can grip and optionally seal against the conduit outer surface. The assembly may include an optional sensing function for detecting or sensing a characteristic or condition of an assembly component or the fluid or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Peter C. Williams, Mark A. Clason, Mark D. Bearer, Richard A. Ales, William H. Glime, Stephen W. Moore, Sunniva R. Collins, Jeffrey S. Rayle, Joseph M. Gorley, Cal R. Brown
  • Publication number: 20100276406
    Abstract: A DC arc start function for a welder. The arc start function is realized using a universal input DC regulator coupled to a DC to DC converter that produces a regulated DC voltage that is sufficient to strike an arc at an electrode of the welder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Kevin C. Silk, Richard A. Ales
  • Publication number: 20100201118
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for mechanically attached connections of conduits may include a conduit gripping member (34), a drive member (36), and a seal member (48), the drive member causing axial movement of the conduit gripping member to indent into an outer surface of the conduit when the assembly is pulled-up, the drive member causing the seal member to form a zero clearance seal at a location that is axially spaced from the conduit gripping member. The zero clearance seal may comprise a face seal arrangement including a gasket (48), and the conduit gripping member may be a ferrule, ring or other device that can grip and optionally seal against the conduit outer surface. The assembly may include a sensing function for detecting or sensing a characteristic or condition of an assembly component or the fluid or both, hi one embodiment, a body coupling member has a two piece construction of a main body and a conduit socket insert. A flared fitting embodiment is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Arthur Frank Anton, Michael Ray Butkovic, Johan Jan Goemans, Kevin Mracek, Dale C. Arstein, Franziska H. Dacek, John D. Karkosiak, Jeffrey Michael Rubinski, David Bryan O'Connor, David E. O'Connor, Nicholas Raney Lubar, Gerhard H. Schiroky, Mark A. Bennett, Theodore J. Gausman, Andrew P. Marshall, Larry Dean Vandendriessche, Sylvia Antionette Bon, William H. Glime, III, Michael Jerome Mohlenkamp, Peter C. Williams, Richard A. Ales, Stephen W. Moore, Sunniva R. Collins
  • Publication number: 20090314087
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining relative and/or absolute axial position of a conduit end within a fluid coupling includes application of input ultrasonic energy in the form of transient shear waves and analyzing the reflected energy. Application of the input energy collected at different radial positions about a first axial location is used with wavelet based correlation techniques to better analyze the reflected energy signals. Quality of the abutment between the conduit end and a surface associated with the coupling may also be determined as a separate or combined feature of the axial position determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: SWAGELOK COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard A. Ales, William H. Glime, John Barry Hull, Jeffrey M. Rubinski, Michael Douglas Seymour, Peter C. Williams, Wenxian Yang
  • Patent number: 7591181
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining relative and/or absolute axial position of a conduit end within a fluid coupling includes application of input ultrasonic energy in the form of transient shear waves and analyzing the reflected energy. Application of the input energy collected at different radial positions about a first axial location is used with wavelet based correlation techniques to better analyze the reflected energy signals. Quality of the abutment between the conduit end and a surface associated with the coupling may also be determined as a separate or combined feature of the axial position determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Ales, William H. Glime, John Barry Hull, Jeffrey M. Rubinski, Michael Douglas Seymour, Peter C. Williams, Wenxian Yang
  • Patent number: 7581445
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining relative and/or absolute axial position of a conduit end within a fluid coupling includes application of input ultrasonic energy in the form of transient shear waves and analyzing the reflected energy. Application of the input energy collected at different radial positions about a first axial location is used with wavelet based correlation techniques to better analyze the reflected energy signals. Quality of the abutment between the conduit end and a surface associated with the coupling may also be determined as a separate or combined feature of the axial position determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Ales, William H. Glime, John Barry Hull, Jeffrey M. Rubinski, Michael Douglas Seymour, Peter C. Williams, Wenxian Yang
  • Publication number: 20080087088
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining relative and/or absolute axial position of a conduit end within a fluid coupling includes application of input ultrasonic energy in the form of transient shear waves and analyzing the reflected energy. Application of the input energy collected at different radial positions about a first axial location is used with wavelet based correlation techniques to better analyze the reflected energy signals. Quality of the abutment between the conduit end and a surface associated with the coupling may also be determined as a separate or combined feature of the axial position determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: SWAGELOK COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Ales, William Glime, John Hull, Jeffrey Rubinski, Michael Seymour, Peter Williams, Wenxian Yang
  • Publication number: 20080022772
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining relative and/or absolute axial position of a conduit end within a fluid coupling includes application of input ultrasonic energy in the form of transient shear waves and analyzing the reflected energy. Application of the input energy collected at different radial positions about a first axial location is used with wavelet based correlation techniques to better analyze the reflected energy signals. Quality of the abutment between the conduit end and a surface associated with the coupling may also be determined as a separate or combined feature of the axial position determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Richard Ales, William Glime, John Hull, Jeffrey Rubinski, Michael Seymour, Peter Williams, Wenxian Yang
  • Patent number: 7284433
    Abstract: Hand-held apparatus and method for determining relative and/or absolute axial position of a conduit end within a fluid coupling includes application of input ultrasonic energy in the form of transient shear waves and analyzing the reflected energy. Application of the input energy collected at different radial positions about a first axial location is used with wavelet based correlation techniques to better analyze the reflected energy signals. Quality of the abutment between the conduit end and a surface associated with the coupling may also be determined as a separate or combined feature of the axial position determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Ales, William H. Glime, John Barry Hull, Jeffrey M. Rubinski, Michael Douglas Seymour, Peter C. Williams, Wenxian Yang
  • Publication number: 20050256676
    Abstract: Hand-held apparatus and method for determining relative and/or absolute axial position of a conduit end within a fluid coupling includes application of input ultrasonic energy in the form of transient shear waves and analyzing the reflected energy. Application of the input energy collected at different radial positions about a first axial location is used with wavelet based correlation techniques to better analyze the reflected energy signals. Quality of the abutment between the conduit end and a surface associated with the coupling may also be determined as a separate or combined feature of the axial position determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Richard Ales, William Glime, John Hull, Jeffrey Rubinski, Michael Seymour, Peter Williams, Wenxian Yang
  • Publication number: 20050092079
    Abstract: Diaphragm position sensing and movement sensing for diaphragm valves is realized with one or more sensors that are directly disposed with the diaphragm or directly sense the diaphragm itself rather than an associated part of a valve. The invention contemplates many different types of sensors and also temperature compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Richard Ales, William Glime
  • Patent number: 6154679
    Abstract: Low voltage logic circuitry is used to permit an entire subsystem of an industrial controller to be placed within a hazardous environment to receive a high speed serial link and undertake the control of multiple control points without expensive and awkward long cable runs and electrically isolating circuits for each cable run. Energy and bandwidth limiting on the high speed link allows power levels commensurate with high data rates yet intrinsic safety of the media allowing it to freely pass in and out of the hazardous area. A mixture of intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe equipment on the same logical rack is allowed through a bus isolator providing isolated data communication in backplane fashion between modules while wholly isolating power transmission along the backplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Rockwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wolfgang Kessler, Robin-David Slater, Hermann Wieth, Igor Kurkovskiy, Richard A. Ales, Robert J. Kretschmann