Patents by Inventor Robert Kuhlman

Robert Kuhlman 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: 20220306512
    Abstract: A cooling panel for a melter is disclosed that includes first and second outer walls and a plurality of side walls coupled to the first and second outer walls. The first and second outer walls and the plurality of side walls define an interior space. Each of the first and second outer walls, moreover, has a plurality of openings. The cooling panel further includes a plurality of baffles disposed in the interior space. The baffles include a plurality of projections. The respective openings of the outer walls and projections of the baffles fit together and are connected from outside of the cooling panel so that the outer walls and the baffles are fixed together, and the side walls are fixed to the outer walls so that the cooling panel is fluid-tight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Shane T. Rashley, Robert Kuhlman, David Soley, Jian Jiao, Walter Anderson, Susan L. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220306511
    Abstract: A cooling panel for a melter includes first and second outer walls and a plurality of side walls coupled to the first and second outer walls. The first and second outer walls and the plurality of side walls define an interior space. The cooling panel also includes a plurality of baffles disposed in the interior space. The baffles divide the interior space into a plurality of rows, wherein the rows have widths W, and further have first and second longitudinal surfaces and an open transverse surface. The open transverse surfaces of the baffles are spaced away from adjacent side walls by a distance D that is 70% to 80% of the widths W of the rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Shane T. Rashley, Robert Kuhlman, David Soley, Jian Jiao, Walter Anderson, Susan L. Smith
  • Patent number: 11390551
    Abstract: A cooling panel for a melter and method for fabricating the cooling panel are disclosed. In particular, the cooling panel can include first and second outer walls and a plurality of side walls coupled to the outer walls that define an interior space. A plurality of baffles is disposed in the interior space, where projections in the baffles fit into respective openings in the outer walls and can be connected from outside the cooling panel. The cooling panel can be formed by way of welding and/or additive manufacturing, as discussed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Shane T. Rashley, Robert Kuhlman, David Soley, Jian Jiao, Walter Anderson, Susan L. Smith
  • Patent number: 11084749
    Abstract: A glass melter batch inlet and cleaning device and related methods of its operation are disclosed. The glass melter batch inlet and cleaning device includes an outer tubular housing including a side inlet, an inner tubular chopper including a side inlet relief in registration with the side inlet of the outer tubular housing, and at least one actuator extending alongside the outer tubular housing and coupled to the inner tubular chopper to move the chopper with respect to the outer tubular housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Shane T. Rashley, Robert Kuhlman
  • Publication number: 20210094863
    Abstract: A cooling panel for a melter and method for fabricating the cooling panel are disclosed. In particular, the cooling panel can include first and second outer walls and a plurality of side walls coupled to the outer walls that define an interior space. A plurality of baffles is disposed in the interior space, where projections in the baffles fit into respective openings in the outer walls and can be connected from outside the cooling panel. The cooling panel can be formed by way of welding and/or additive manufacturing, as discussed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Shane T. Rashley, Robert Kuhlman, David Soley, Jian Jiao, Walter Anderson, Susan L. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200156978
    Abstract: A glass melter batch inlet and cleaning device and related methods of its operation are disclosed. The glass melter batch inlet and cleaning device includes an outer tubular housing including a side inlet, an inner tubular chopper including a side inlet relief in registration with the side inlet of the outer tubular housing, and at least one actuator extending alongside the outer tubular housing and coupled to the inner tubular chopper to move the chopper with respect to the outer tubular housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Shane T. Rashley, Robert Kuhlman
  • Publication number: 20120217426
    Abstract: Valve apparatus having a double-offset shaft connection are described herein. An example flow control member includes a sealing surface to move relative to a seal where the flow control member has a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the first and second axes intersect a center of curvature of the sealing surface. The flow control member also includes an opening to receive a shaft where the opening has a third axis passing through the opening to define a pivot about which the sealing surface rotates. The third axis is offset from the first and second axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew James Berthelsen, Charles Robert Kuhlman, Ronald Ray Brestel