Patents by Inventor Robert Ray

Robert Ray 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: 10831921
    Abstract: A computing device is configured to carry out actions including: generating, in a graph database, an access role vertex that defines an access role of a user, where the access role vertex is connected to a user vertex representing the user; generating a query vertex including a traversal clause that represents a query of the graph database; generating a permission edge between the access role vertex and the query vertex, where the permission edge defines the access role's permission to access the results of the query; receiving a request to execute the query on behalf of the user; in response to the request, traversing the graph database according to the traversal clause to locate a set of vertices; and generating a set of results based on the set of vertices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: WORKIVA INC.
    Inventors: David Andrew Haila, Graham Cummins, Robert Ray Lamb, Jeroen Sebastian Cranendonk
  • Publication number: 20200324985
    Abstract: A system for refilling a resource of an agricultural system includes the agricultural system including a tank that stores the resource. The system also includes a support vehicle including a container that stores the resource, a locating system that outputs a first signal indicative of a position of the support vehicle, a transfer system that includes a resource transfer device, and a controller communicatively coupled to the locating system and the transfer system including a processor and a memory. The controller determines a target location in a field to position the support vehicle, control the support vehicle such that the support vehicle is directed toward the target location, and instruct the transfer system to activate the resource transfer device to transfer the resource from the container to the tank while the position of the agricultural system is within a threshold distance of the target location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: John H. Posselius, Todd Sarkis Aznavorian, Tyson J. Dollinger, Christopher Alan Foster, Brian Robert Ray, Adam Robert Rusciolelli, Nadav Y Daniel
  • Publication number: 20200247527
    Abstract: Rupture fairings are disclosed. A disclosed example fairing for use with an aircraft includes a surface to at least partially define an exterior surface of the aircraft when the fairing is installed onto the aircraft, and a membrane to rupture during flight of the aircraft, where the membrane defines at least a portion of the exterior surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: John Cleveland Waldrop, III, Manny S. Urcia, JR., Robert Ray Johnson, Samuel Jerome Huhman, Xue Liu, William A. Lamey, III, Anthony Roberts, Lucian Woods
  • Patent number: 10703963
    Abstract: A method includes flowing a hydrating liquid in an extensional flow regime through an elongated passageway of an extender, wherein a flow rate of the hydrating liquid and a diameter of the elongated passageway are sufficient to achieve a Reynolds number of 20,000 or greater. A hydratable additive is added to the hydrating liquid in the elongated passageway to produce a mixture comprising the hydratable additive that is at least partially hydrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: PfP Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Asoke Kumar Deysarkar, Michael Joseph Callanan, IV, Robert Ray McDaniel, Brian James Keola DeCaires
  • Publication number: 20200190978
    Abstract: Apparatuses and systems and methods implementing the apparatuses and systems include a blender base unit having an rpm sensor and the methods determines a minimum rpm value that is converted to a shear rate, a fluid velocity rate, and an estimated maximum fracture width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventor: Robert Ray McDaniel
  • Patent number: 10544358
    Abstract: Solid proppants are coated with a coating that exhibits the handling characteristics of a pre-cured coating while also exhibiting the ability to form particle-to-particle bonds at the elevated temperatures and pressures within a wellbore. The coating includes a substantially homogeneous mixture of (i) at least one isocyanate component having at least 2 isocyanate groups, and (ii) a curing agent comprising a monofunctional alcohol, amine or amide. The coating process can be performed with short cycle times, e.g., less than about 4 minutes, and still produce a dry, free-flowing, coated proppant that exhibits low dust characteristics during pneumatic handling but also proppant consolidation downhole for reduced washout and good conductivity. Such proppants also form good unconfined compressive strength without use of an bond activator, are substantially unaffected in bond formation characteristics under downhole conditions despite prior heat exposure, and are resistant to leaching with hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary, Spyridon Monastiriotis, Ralph Edward Barthel
  • Patent number: 10538298
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for decreasing the difficulty of executing a “pop-up” maneuver on a water sport board, such as a surfboard, is disclosed. Said apparatus consists of either one or two devices attached to the surfboard at the location where a user places his hands to execute the pop-up maneuver. Said devices move the user's hands away from the deck of the surfboard, creating more space between the surfer and the board during the pop-up maneuver, facilitating the user to swing the user into position and execute the pop-up maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Ray Blocker, Raelene Ehlers Blocker, Weston Robert Blocker
  • Patent number: 10532689
    Abstract: A method of providing a ramp system, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of ramp members that are adapted to be coupled to a rigid portion of a trailer, wherein a first of the ramp members extends from the rigid portion of the trailer to a flat surface of an automotive vehicle that is attached to the trailer for pulling said trailer, wherein the second ramp member extends from the rigid member to a flat surface of the trailer, an incline exists from where the second member touches the flat surface of the trailer to where the first member touches the flat surface of the automotive vehicle; permitting the first ramp member to pivot from the flat surface of the automotive vehicle to a more vertical first orientation; and permitting the first ramp member to lock in the more vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Inventor: Robert Ray Bonham, III
  • Publication number: 20190336320
    Abstract: One variation of a method—for controlling a breathing mask comprising a flow control module configured to mate to nostrils of a user and comprising an actuator configured to adjust obstruction to airflow out of the flow control module—includes: accessing a wake alarm time; accessing a sleep delay duration; at a first time, receiving an indicator that the user is preparing for sleep; in response to receiving the indicator, triggering the actuator to transition from a minimum-restriction position toward a maximum-restriction position at a second time succeeding the first time by the sleep delay duration, the actuator minimally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the minimum-restriction position and maximally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the maximally—restriction position; and, prior to the wake alarm time, triggering the actuator to transition back to the minimum-restriction position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Curtis Ray, Michael Ray, Robert Ray
  • Patent number: 10398587
    Abstract: One variation of a method—for controlling a breathing mask comprising a flow control module configured to mate to nostrils of a user and comprising an actuator configured to adjust obstruction to airflow out of the flow control module—includes: accessing a wake alarm time; accessing a sleep delay duration; at a first time, receiving an indicator that the user is preparing for sleep; in response to receiving the indicator, triggering the actuator to transition from a minimum-restriction position toward a maximum-restriction position at a second time succeeding the first time by the sleep delay duration, the actuator minimally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the minimum-restriction position and maximally obstructing airflow out of outlet port in the maximally-restriction position; and, prior to the wake alarm time, triggering the actuator to transition back to the minimum-restriction position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Hupnos, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis Ray, Michael Ray, Robert Ray
  • Patent number: 10398084
    Abstract: A control system for a haul vehicle, includes a first transceiver configured to receive a first signal from a second transceiver, wherein the first signal is indicative of a first determined position and a first determined velocity of the target vehicle. The control system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first transceiver, wherein the controller automatically controls the speed of the haul vehicle by determining a desired position and a desired speed of the haul vehicle based at least in part on the first determined position and the first determined velocity of the target vehicle, instructing an automated speed control system to establish the ground speed of the haul vehicle to reach the target position, and instructing the automated speed control system to control the ground speed of the haul vehicle to maintain the target position, including during turning of the target and haul vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Robert Ray, Peter John Dix, Daniel John Morwood, Michael G. Hornberger
  • Publication number: 20190249078
    Abstract: Solid proppants are coated with a coating that exhibits the handling characteristics of a precured coating while also exhibiting the ability to form particle-to-particle bonds at the elevated temperatures and pressures within a wellbore. The coating includes a substantially homogeneous mixture of (i) at least one isocyanate component having at least 2 isocyanate groups, and (ii) a curing agent. The coating process can be performed with short cycle times, e.g., less than about 4 minutes, and still produce a dry, free-flowing, coated proppant that exhibits low dust characteristics during pneumatic handling but also proppant consolidation downhole for reduced washout and good conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary
  • Publication number: 20190249077
    Abstract: Polymer coated proppants for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells have an outer layer portion that comprises an organofunctional coupling agent, preferably an organofunctional silane coupling agent. The use of an organofunctional silane coupling agent in the outer layer portion of the proppant coating is preferably chosen to expose functionalities that will be reactive towards similar functionalities of adjacent and similarly coated proppants so that, when introduced downhole, these proppants form interparticle bonds at the temperatures and crack closure pressures found downhole in fractured strata. Such enhanced interparticle bonding helps keep the proppant in the fracture and maintains conductivity with reduced flowback. The invention also helps proppants designed for low temperature well to bond more firmly and allows proppants designed for high temperature wells to bond well even at lower downhole temperatures, thereby extending their useful range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Spyridon Monastiriotis, Robert Ray McDaniel, Avis Lloyd McCrary, Ralph Edward Barthel
  • Publication number: 20190238011
    Abstract: A solid-state electromagnetic rotor, including a plurality of salient pole pieces arranged around a supporting structure, wherein a first end of each salient pole piece is attached to the support structure and a second end of each salient pole piece points outward away from the sup-porting structure. The wires wound around each salient pole piece, wherein when the wires of the plurality of salient pole pieces are sequentially excited by an excitation circuit. The salient pole pieces are energized to provide a moving polar magnetic field in the form of distinct magnetic poles as desired to accomplish power generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: HOLCOMB SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH LIMITED
    Inventor: Robert Ray Holcomb
  • Publication number: 20190212021
    Abstract: Ridge vents configured to cover an open ridge of a roof and allow a flow of air to exit from the open ridge through the ridge vents are provided. The ridge vents include a center portion having a length and a plurality of grooves. Left and right portions are connected to the center portion. The center portion is configured to flex along it's length, thereby forming a ridge vent angle between the left and right portions. The formed ridge vent angle is configured to correspond with a slope between roof decks defining the open ridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Lawrence Jerome Grubka, Brian Robert Ray, Geoffrey Howard Wilson, John Paul Devlin, David Swett, Mark Bui Breneman, James Steven Pelletier, Kurt Michael Maw
  • Publication number: 20190213351
    Abstract: A computing device is configured to carry out actions including: generating, in a graph database, an access role vertex that defines an access role of a user, where the access role vertex is connected to a user vertex representing the user; generating a query vertex including a traversal clause that represents a query of the graph database; generating a permission edge between the access role vertex and the query vertex, where the permission edge defines the access role's permission to access the results of the query; receiving a request to execute the query on behalf of the user; in response to the request, traversing the graph database according to the traversal clause to locate a set of vertices; and generating a set of results based on the set of vertices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: David Andrew Haila, Graham Cummins, Robert Ray Lamb, Jeroen Sebastian Cranendonk
  • Patent number: 10339338
    Abstract: A method includes generating, in a graph database, an access role vertex that defines an access role of a user, where the access role vertex is connected to a user vertex representing the user; generating a query vertex including a traversal clause that represents a query of the graph database; generating a permission edge between the access role vertex and the query vertex, where the permission edge defines the access role's permission to access the results of the query; receiving a request to execute the query on behalf of the user; in response to the request, traversing the graph database according to the traversal clause to locate a set of vertices; and generating a set of results based on the set of vertices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Workiva Inc.
    Inventors: David Andrew Haila, Graham Cummins, Robert Ray Lamb, Jeroen Sebastian Cranendonk
  • Publication number: 20190077456
    Abstract: A control system is configured to receive a first signal indicative of a current position of a vehicle and a second signal indicative of a desired path for the vehicle. The control system is configured to calculate a virtual path between the current position and a target position on the desired path and to output a third signal indicative of curvature command corresponding to an initial curvature of the virtual path to cause a steering control system of the vehicle to adjust a steering angle of the vehicle. The control is also configured to iteratively receive an updated current position, receive any updates to the desired path, calculate an updated target position, calculate an updated virtual path based on the updated current position and updated desired path, and output an updated curvature command corresponding to a respective initial curvature of the updated virtual path as the vehicle travels across a surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Nathan Eric Bunderson, John Arthur Mitsuru Petersen, Brian Robert Ray
  • Publication number: 20190061594
    Abstract: A method of providing a ramp system, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of ramp members that are adapted to be coupled to a rigid portion of a trailer, wherein a first of the ramp members extends from the rigid portion of the trailer to a flat surface of an automotive vehicle that is attached to the trailer for pulling said trailer, wherein the second ramp member extends from the rigid member to a flat surface of the trailer, an incline exists from where the second member touches the flat surface of the trailer to where the first member touches the flat surface of the automotive vehicle; permitting the first ramp member to pivot from the flat surface of the automotive vehicle to a more vertical first orientation; and permitting the first ramp member to lock in the more vertical position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Ray BONHAM, III
  • Patent number: 10208242
    Abstract: Proppants for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells are coated with a polyurea-type coating. In a preferred embodiment, the polyurea-type coating is formed by contacting a polymeric isocyanate with an amount of water a blowing catalyst at a rate and quantity sufficient to generate a reactive amine in situ on the outer surface of the proppant which thereby reacts with unconverted polymeric isocyanate to form a thin polyurea-type surface coating that is substantially solid and lacks foam or substantial porosity. Alternatively, the polyurea-type can be produced by selecting reactive amine compounds and isocyanates to develop the coated proppant. The coated proppants retain the discrete, free-flowing character of the original core solids but with the beneficial effects of the polyurea-type coating of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Avis Lloyd McCrary, Robert Ray McDaniel, Ralph Edward Barthel, Spyridon Monastiriotis