Patents by Inventor Richard A. Spivey

Richard A. Spivey 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).

  • Methods and apparatus for reducing drag via a plasma actuator
    Patent number: 8091950
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a surface over which airflow passes. A plasma actuator is configured to generate plasma above the surface, the plasma coupling a directed momentum into the air surrounding the surface to reduce separation of the airflow from the surface. A method of reducing separation of airflow from a surface of the vehicle includes generating plasma in air surrounding the surface at a position where the airflow would separate from the surface in the absence of the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: University of Notre Dame Du Lac
    Inventors: Thomas C. Corke, Richard Spivey
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING DRAG VIA A PLASMA ACTUATOR
    Publication number: 20080122252
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a surface over which airflow passes. A plasma actuator is configured to generate plasma above the surface, the plasma coupling a directed momentum into the air surrounding the surface to reduce separation of the airflow from the surface. A method of reducing separation of airflow from a surface of the vehicle includes generating plasma in air surrounding the surface at a position where the airflow would separate from the surface in the absence of the plasma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas C. Corke, Richard Spivey
  • Two-piece segmented mold
    Patent number: 6318985
    Abstract: An improved two-piece segmented mold includes a plurality of tread mold segments mounted to a frustoconical seat in a mold back by a T-shaped guide bar inserted in a guide slot formed in the seat. The segments are biased to a normally closed position in abutment with adjacent segments and in abutment with a mold side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: John F. Heindel, Joe E. Birch, Jr., Richard A. Spivey, Lawrence W. Stachniak, Robert G. Tyler