Patents by Inventor Robert Hansen

Robert Hansen 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: 20090139394
    Abstract: Briefly, the invention comprises a vibrator with an on-demand start-up system, that inhibits fouling the atmosphere, with one embodiment of the invention including an integral non-fouling start-up system wherein at least one of the bearing surfaces contains a surface adhered lubricant so as to provide an on-demand static start-up system and in another embodiment the on-demand start-up system is a dynamic system that can unbalance the differential forces on the piston therein to ensure that the vibrator will begin vibrating “on-demand”. Thus, two types of start-up systems are available one an on-demand static start-up system and the other an on-demand dynamic start-up system with either of the systems can be used alone or if desired in combination to provide redundant start-up systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventor: Robert Hansen
  • Patent number: 7530301
    Abstract: Briefly, the invention comprises a vibrator with an on-demand start-up system, that inhibits fouling the atmosphere, with one embodiment of the invention including an integral non-fouling start-up system wherein at least one of the bearing surfaces contains a surface adhered lubricant so as to provide an on-demand static start-up system and in another embodiment the on-demand start-up system is a dynamic system that can unbalance the differential forces on the piston therein to ensure that the vibrator will begin vibrating “on-demand”. Thus, two types of start-up systems are available one an on-demand static start-up system and the other an on-demand dynamic start-up system with either of the systems can be used alone or if desired in combination to provide redundant start-up systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Inventor: Robert Hansen
  • Patent number: 7520378
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a street sweeper having a vertical chain driven conveyor apparatus. The vertical chain driven conveyor apparatus is provided with a jointed shaft to compensate for chain wear over the life of the chains. The vertical chain driven conveyor apparatus is provided with an automatically adjusting chain tension adjustment system. The vertical chain driven conveyor apparatus is provided with locking adjustment mechanism to prevent the chains from losing tension when the sweeper is turned off. An initialization program is operable to restore chain tension when the street sweeper is started and prevent sweeping operations until a desired chain tension has been indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Karl Robert Hansen, Craig Daniel Block
  • Publication number: 20090047496
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and machine for manufacturing an industrial fabric using a “folding” technique. The invention relates to a laminated fabric that is produced using this technique. The method comprises the steps of forming a base support structure having a width which is larger than a width of the final fabric, attaching at least one layer of staple fiber batt material to one or both sides of the base support structure, folding the base support structure onto itself in a widthwise manner one or more times to form a multi-layered structure, and bonding the layers of the multilayered structure together to form a laminated fabric structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7455752
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric formed by arranging a number of layers in a predetermined manner, wherein at least one layer comprises a material which is woven, knitted or braided and has a first melting point temperature and wherein each of the remaining layers has a melting point temperature which is higher than said first melting point temperature; and heating said number of layers to a temperature at least equal to said first melting point temperature and less than said melting point temperature of each of the remaining layers such that said at least one layer melts without melting the remaining layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7407564
    Abstract: A stratified press fabric for the press section of a paper machine includes a base fabric in the form of an endless loop. A first staple fiber batt material is attached to the outer side of the base fabric by needling. A fine fabric covers the first staple fiber batt material, and a second staple fiber batt material is attached to the fine fabric by needling. The fibers making up the second staple fiber material are finer, that is, of smaller diameter or denier, than the fibers making up the first staple fiber material. The fine fabric prevents the coarser fibers of the first staple fiber batt material from being needled therethrough to mix with the finer fibers of the second fiber batt material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20080142425
    Abstract: A filter cartridge having a filter end cap with a set of circumferentially spaced multifaceted dogs that can laterally support a filter on a filter mount as well as latch the filter securely lock the filter end cap to the filter mount while preventing the problem of mounting incorrect filter cartridges as well as a method of mounting
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Hansen
  • Publication number: 20080134875
    Abstract: Briefly, the invention comprises a vibrator with an on-demand start-up system, that inhibits fouling the atmosphere, with one embodiment of the invention including an integral non-fouling start-up system wherein at least one of the bearing surfaces contains a surface adhered lubricant so as to provide an on-demand static start-up system and in another embodiment the on-demand start-up system is a dynamic system that can unbalance the differential forces on the piston therein to ensure that the vibrator will begin vibrating “on-demand”. Thus, two types of start-up systems are available one an on-demand static start-up system and the other an on-demand dynamic start-up system with either of the systems can be used alone or if desired in combination to provide redundant start-up systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Hansen
  • Publication number: 20080068448
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method by which the capabilities of a device that is not specifically adapted for use as a video endpoint can be determined. The capabilities of the device may be, for example, whether or not an application required for the device to act as a video endpoint is present at the device. If the application is not present on the device then the invention provides means by which the device can access the application. The capabilities of the device that are determined may, alternatively, be properties of the device, such as the amount of free memory available to the device's operating system. By determining properties of the device any application being used by the device to connect to a video conference can be altered in order to improve the device's connection to a video call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20080026194
    Abstract: A stratified press fabric for the press section of a paper machine having a passive sensor system for detecting wear in the press fabric. The lower (non-surface) layer(s) of the stratified press fabric are produced using colored staple fiber batt material. As the surface of the fabric is worn away through use, the colored batt material is exposed to provide a visual indication of the wear. This visual indication allows the customer to readily determine the appropriate time to replace the press fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20070228712
    Abstract: Restraint systems for vehicle occupants are disclosed. Particularly, restraint bars configured to pivot on a shaft to a restraining position across the lap of a seated vehicle occupant are disclosed. The shaft of the restraint bar may be operably coupled with a ratchet wheel. The position of the ratchet wheel, and thus the position of the restraint bar may be controlled using at least one pawl, engageable with teeth of the ratchet wheel. A release mechanism may disengage the at least one pawl from the teeth of the ratchet, enabling the restraint bar to pivot freely. The restraint bar may be vertically or horizontally adjustable with respect to the seated occupant. In addition, the seat of the occupant may be horizontally adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Hansen, Ann Hansen, Mark Viehweg
  • Patent number: 7273074
    Abstract: An on-machine-seamable industrial fabric includes rings in the seam region. In one principal embodiment, the rings are between the seaming loops at the two ends of the fabric and enclose at least one cross-machine-direction (CD) yarn. As such, the rings strengthen the seam region by involving the CD yarns as a reinforcement. In another principal embodiment, the rings are used instead of a seaming spiral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20070061277
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for providing dynamic deployment of grid services over a computer network. The method comprises installing grid artifacts in a directory located on a target hosting environment in response to an invocation of an implementation of a deployment grid service. The grid artifacts include a Web service deployment descriptor, a service implementation, and a WSDL describing the service implementation. The method also includes providing addressability of the grid service to the client system by updating the Web service deployment descriptor with service data elements and typemappings associated with the client system. The artifacts are resident in a GAR file provided by a grid services deployment system. Other embodiments include a system and a storage medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Boden, Robert Hansen, Frank Paxhia, Michael Williams
  • Publication number: 20070003099
    Abstract: A voice coil actuator having a capacitive sensor. A magnetic housing contains at least one magnet, and has a wall that defines a first cavity. A magnetic core is coupled to the magnetic housing and extend from an interior surface of the magnetic housing in a direction of a center axis of the wall of the magnetic housing. A coil assembly has a wall defining a second cavity that at least partly envelops the magnetic core, disposed at least partly inside the first cavity, and adapted to move linearly with respect to the magnetic housing. The coil assembly forms a capacitive sensor with the magnetic core, the capacitive sensor adapted to measure at least one of position, velocity and acceleration of the coil assembly with respect to the magnetic housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Asad Madni, Jim Vuong, Robert Hansen
  • Patent number: 7128810
    Abstract: An anti-rewet press fabric for paper and board machines includes a barrier layer such that during compression in the press nip, the water is forced through the barrier layer, but is prevented from flowing back to the paper web during expansion. The barrier layer comprises a continuous material possessing, for example square, rectangular, tetrahedral, circular or oblong conical inclusions with a smaller opening on the bottom than on the top of the structure. Each of these “funnels” effectively constitutes a one-way valve and creates a vacuum to prevent re-absorption of water by the paper sheet. Under pressure, the structure of the barrier layer allows water to flow into the cones and out of the smaller opening in the bottom. Upon expansion, the smaller opening in the bottom of the structure restricts backward water flow and creates a vacuum on the other side. The vacuum increases water retention in the press fabric and prevents rewetting of the paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7111823
    Abstract: An actuator having a set of slidable pistons including sliding regions with the sliding regions including at least one wear member supported by a resilient member and a second wear member laterally spaced from the first wear member with a lubrication reservoir located therebetween for maintaining the wear members in lubricated sliding engagement with the cylindrical walls of the housing to limit the need to replace or repair the actuator. In order to provide ingress and egress of fluid from the chambers within the actuator a channel passage extends along the back side of the extension of the piston to permit quick venting of fluid therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Dynamic Air
    Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20060191185
    Abstract: A downrigger system for suspending a lure or bait at a depth during trolling includes a controller for adjusting the operating depth in response to detecting fish on a sonar or upon reaching a navigation waypoint entered in a GPS system. Information received from a sonar or a GPS receiver system are compared to preselected parameters to determine whether the operating depth of the downrigger weight should be adjusted. Sonar transducers or a reflector may be added to the weight to permit more accurate control of the operating depth. Fish attractors may be attached to the weight to take advantage of the weight being positioned at the depth of detected fish.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Hansen
  • Publication number: 20060016545
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric formed by arranging a number of layers in a predetermined manner, wherein at least one layer comprises a material which is woven, knitted or braided and has a first melting point temperature and wherein each of the remaining layers has a melting point temperature which is higher than said first melting point temperature; and heating said number of layers to a temperature at least equal to said first melting point temperature and less than said melting point temperature of each of the remaining layers such that said at least one layer melts without melting the remaining layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Hansen
  • Patent number: 6989080
    Abstract: A nonwoven papermaker's fabric, usable in the dryer section of a paper machine, has a spiral wound machine direction (MD) base layer of raw stock which is wound around a pair of parallel rolls or cylinders until the desired length and width is achieved. The spiral wound MD layer is overlaid with a cross-machine direction (CD) layer of similar or dissimilar raw stock and mated by any of a number of means. The spiral wound MD layer can also be mated to another MD layer spiraled in the opposite direction and in one embodiment further mated to a CD layer. The fabric is preferably produced so that its neutral line is oriented toward the paper side of the fabric so that the paper sheet will stretch less than when typical dryer fabrics are used to turn the paper sheet and fabric around the dryer cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20060015903
    Abstract: Various menu and cursor arrow navigation aids are disclosed for television systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Scott MacBeth, Ashish Garg, William Schupp, Robert Hansen, Michael McDermott, Philip McKay, Hong Nguyen, Norifumi Takaya