Patents by Inventor Robert E. Simmons

Robert E. Simmons 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: 8182688
    Abstract: A biogas generator employs an anaerobic digestion process to convert organic waste material within a sealed reservoir to a biogas. A solar thermal panel connected to the reservoir heats a fluid traveling through a conduit, which is connected to a heat exchanger within the reservoir. The heated fluid travels through the heat exchanger and heats the waste material to facilitate the anaerobic digestion process. Solar cells produce electricity to operate one or more pumps that pump the heated fluid through the conduit, and pump the waste material and the generated biogas, into and out of the reservoir. A rotating lid structure has elongated agitators which extend into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Robert E. Simmons
  • Publication number: 20100151552
    Abstract: A biogas generator employs an anaerobic digestion process to convert organic waste material within a sealed reservoir to a biogas. A solar thermal panel connected to the reservoir heats a fluid traveling through a conduit, which is connected to a heat exchanger within the reservoir. The heated fluid travels through the heat exchanger and heats the waste material to facilitate the anaerobic digestion process. Solar cells produce electricity to operate one or more pumps that pump the heated fluid through the conduit, and pump the waste material and the generated biogas, into and out of the reservoir. A rotating lid structure has elongated agitators which extend into the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: Robert E. Simmons
  • Patent number: 6843477
    Abstract: A deck of rock, paper, scissors playing cards and methods of play therewith are disclosed. The deck has fifty-two cards including four wild cards identified as little sister cards and little brother cards, and forty-eight cards including fourteen paper cards, fourteen rock cards, fourteen scissor cards, two crumpled paper cards, two broken rock cards, and two broken scissors cards. Each of the cards has a point value. The associated method includes playing the cards against each other wherein the cards have a hierarchy based on the pictorial. The hierarchy determines the winner of each game. The cards having point values for determining the points awarded for each card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventor: Robert E. Simmons, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040090007
    Abstract: A deck of rock, paper, scissors playing cards and methods of play therewith are disclosed. The deck has fifty-two cards including four wild cards identified as little sister cards and little brother cards, and forty-eight cards including fourteen paper cards, fourteen rock cards, fourteen scissor cards, two crumpled paper cards, two broken rock cards, and two broken scissors cards. Each of the cards has a point value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Robert E. Simmons
  • Patent number: 4765397
    Abstract: A circuit module that contains a planar array of chips has an improved fin assembly that transfers heat to a liquid coolant that is circulated through the fins in a single pass so that there is a tendency for the upstream edge of the fins to run cold and the downstream edge to run hot. The module can be immersed in the coolant. A shroud on the fins confines the coolant flow to channels defined by the fins, the shroud, and the base of the fins. The fin assembly is constructed so that the coolant channels are narrowed as a function of the temperature of the liquid coolant. The narrowing channels increase the coolant velocity and thereby improves the heat transfer at what would otherwise become the hot end of the module. The coolant velocity is increased at the appropriate rate to maintain equal cooling along the direction of coolant flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Chrysler, Richard Chao-Fan Chu, Robert E. Simmons
  • Patent number: 4183088
    Abstract: 1. A generator for producing random binary bits comprising in combination, eans for producing a random noise electrical signal, means coupled to the output of said signal producing means for converting said random noise electrical signal into a variable width square wave signal having polarities proportional to the polarities thereof at any given instant, means connected to the output of said converting means for producing a plurality of constant frequency pulses the number of which is proportional to the widths of those portions of the aforesaid variable width square wave signal having the same polarity, and means effectively connected to said pulse producing means for timely sampling said pulses in terms of binary bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1962
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Robert E. Simmons