Patents by Inventor Robin Crawford

Robin Crawford 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: 20240376841
    Abstract: An assembly for induction heating an exhaust gas flow includes a substrate and linear cells for the flow of the gas through the substrate from a front end of the substrate body to a back end. Metal members such as pins or wires have linear supporting parts projecting from a front end of the substrate into front-end parts of the cells. The metal members have turbulence-inducing part to generate turbulence in the exhaust gas flowing into the cells and through the substrate. The turbulence-inducing parts are integral with respective linear supporting parts and extend away from the substrate. Configurations of an induction heating coil and a magnetic flux concentrator are adapted for the particular location and form of the pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Robin CRAWFORD, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 11988127
    Abstract: An assembly for induction heating an exhaust gas flow includes a substrate and linear cells for the flow of the gas through the substrate from a front end of the substrate body to a back end. Metal members such as pins or wires have linear supporting parts projecting from a front end of the substrate into front-end parts of the cells. The metal members have turbulence-inducing part to generate turbulence in the exhaust gas flowing into the cells and through the substrate. The turbulence-inducing parts are integral with respective linear supporting parts and extend away from the substrate. Configurations of an induction heating coil and a magnetic flux concentrator are adapted for the particular location and form of the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 11738309
    Abstract: In a method of making a gaseous emissions treatment component, a ‘green’ ceramic mix is extruded through a die to form an extrusion having cells extending along the extrusion, the cells being bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. In concert with the extruding, metal is fed through the die with the extruded mix. A length of the extrusion and associated metal is then cut off and fired to form the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 11440234
    Abstract: In a process for manufacturing a component for an emissions treatment unit, green ceramic product is extruded through a die to form an extrusion having a honeycomb substrate structure with an array of parallel, linear tubular cells extending along its length, the cells bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. A ceramic unit is obtained by cutting off, curing and firing a length of the extrusion a length of the extrusion. Following the firing, a mixture of a flowable, uncured curable material and a particulate metal component is injected from an end of the ceramic unit into selected ones of the cells so as to block the selected cells over at least a part of their lengths while maintaining all of the walls of the ceramic unit. The injected mixture is then cured to render it solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 11328865
    Abstract: As wire is wound around and onto the surface of a former to form a coil, perturbations such as waves are introduced into turns of the coil, each perturbation being formed in a length of the wire less than the full length of a respective turn and projecting along the former surface, the perturbation having an initial shape and size. The coil is taken from the former and fixed in form. A surrounding jacket is radially collapsed onto the wire coil to uniformly press the coil against an internal compressible body in the course of which the overall diameter of the coil is reduced. Resulting stresses in the wire generated during the collapse are relieved by alteration of the perturbations from their initial shape and size to a subsequent shape and size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Publication number: 20220127989
    Abstract: An assembly for induction heating an exhaust gas flow includes a substrate and linear cells for the flow of the gas through the substrate from a front end of the substrate body to a back end. Metal members such as pins or wires have linear supporting parts projecting from a front end of the substrate into front-end parts of the cells. The metal members have turbulence-inducing part to generate turbulence in the exhaust gas flowing into the cells and through the substrate. The turbulence-inducing parts are integral with respective linear supporting parts and extend away from the substrate. Configurations of an induction heating coil and a magnetic flux concentrator are adapted for the particular location and form of the pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Publication number: 20220082042
    Abstract: An assembly for treating gaseous emissions has a ceramic substrate body through which extend passages. The assembly has metal wires in selected ones of the passages, a first section of each wire electrically connected at one end thereof to an end of a second wire section and a distal end of the second section electrically connected to one end of a third wire section. The first and third wire sections are composed of a material having a lower electrical resistance than that of the second wire section. Part of each second wire section is located in a respective one of the selected passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 11060433
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to aid fixing of an elongate wire within an elongate, linear cell of a honeycomb ceramic substrate unit for a gaseous emissions treatment assembly. In one method, the wire is formed with a resiliently flexible element, and inserted into the cell, the insertion act causing the resiliently flexible element to flex and to cause a part of the element to bear against a wall of the cell and so provide frictional retention of the wire in the cell. In another, method, an adhesive is used either on the outside of the wire or the inside of the cell. In another method, the wire is scored at spaced intervals along its length to provide relief spaces for linear expansion of the wire to reduce stress at its interface with cell walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10975747
    Abstract: A gaseous emissions treatment component has a honeycomb substrate along and through which extend elongate cells for the passage of gaseous emissions through the substrate. The cells are bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. Metal elements occupy and extend along some of the cells. A metal element has an outer surface shape matching the inner surface of an immediately adjacent part of the cell within which the metal element is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10941686
    Abstract: An assembly for treating gaseous emissions has a substrate along which extend cells for the passage of emissions gas. Lengths of conducting wire are located in a set of the cells and an induction heating coil is used to generate a varying electromagnetic field, so as to inductively heat the lengths of conducting wire. The substrate body has a front for entry of flowing emissions gas to be treated into the substrate body and a back for exit of treated gaseous emissions gas. The lengths of conducting wire have projections extending from the front and/or back of the substrate body so that when inductively heated, the wire parts in the substrate body heat the surrounding substrate and the wire projections heat the flowing emissions gas directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Publication number: 20210046421
    Abstract: In a method of making a gaseous emissions treatment component, a ‘green’ ceramic mix is extruded through a die to form an extrusion having cells extending along the extrusion, the cells being bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. In concert with the extruding, metal is fed through the die with the extruded mix. A length of the extrusion and associated metal is then cut off and fired to form the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10918994
    Abstract: An assembly for use in treating gaseous exhaust emissions has an inductive heater mounted next to a gaseous emissions treatment unit. and downstream substrate units or upstream and downstream sections of a single substrate. The upstream unit or section has linear passages extending the length of the first substrate body for the passage of emissions gas but with some of the passages blocked by metal inserts for use in inductive heating of the upstream unit. The concentration of metal inserts is high and the metal inserts are distributed to enable rapid intense inductive heating of the slice or section to achieve “light off” temperature rapidly in order to pass heat-supplemented gaseous emissions at light-off temperature to the downstream substrate or section as quickly as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Publication number: 20200384676
    Abstract: In a process for manufacturing a catalytic converter component, a ceramic unit is used that has been prepared by extruding green ceramic product through a die to form an extrusion having a honeycomb substrate structure in which tubular passages extend along the extrusion, the passages bounded by walls dividing adjacent passages from one another. The unit is obtained by cutting off a length of the extrusion and curing and firing it. The process further comprises, following the firing, injecting a mixture of a mastic component and a particulate metal component from an end of the ceramic unit into selected ones of the cells so as to block the selected cells over at least a part of the lengths thereof while maintaining all of the walls of the ceramic unit, and curing the injected material to render the injected material solid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10835864
    Abstract: A gaseous emissions treatment component is made by extruding a green ceramic mix through a die to form an extrusion having a honeycomb substrate with elongate cells extending its length and with the cells bounded by walls dividing adjacent cells from one another. Molten metal for use in induction heating of the component is placed in selected cells and is solidified by cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10814276
    Abstract: In a process for manufacturing a catalytic converter component, a ceramic unit is used that has been prepared by extruding green ceramic product through a die to form an extrusion having a honeycomb substrate structure in which tubular passages extend along the extrusion, the passages bounded by walls dividing adjacent passages from one another. The unit is obtained by cutting off a length of the extrusion and curing and firing it. The process further comprises flowing insulation material from one end of the unit into selected ones of the elongate passages, the insulating material then being cured. The passages are selected so that the cured insulation material forms an internal thermal insulating barrier between a core zone and a radially outer zone of the unit. Passages in the inner and outer zones are free of insulation material and the honeycomb structure walls include walls crossing the insulating barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10760462
    Abstract: An assembly for treating gaseous emissions has a substrate with cells for the passage of an emissions gas to be treated and inductive heating elements located in some of the cells. An electromagnetic field generator mounted near the substrate generates a varying electromagnetic field, so as to inductively heat the inductive heating elements and so heat the substrate. Some of the inductive heating elements have a first natural resonant frequency other inductive elements have a second natural resonant frequency different from the first resonant frequency. A power supply for the electromagnetic field generator is operated with a frequency closer to the first resonant frequency for a time and is operated with a frequency closer to the second resonant frequency period for a subsequent time period. By switching between the frequencies at different times, the heating profile can be moved in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10662845
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an electromagnetic field generator generates one or more power signals applied to one or more coils to cause the induction heating of the pins of the emission control device, The pins can have a plurality of differing lengths, and the heating of the pins can cause a first region of the emission control device to heat faster than a second region of the emission control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10626766
    Abstract: A gaseous emissions treatment system includes an emissions control substrate having a plurality of passages to facilitate a catalytic reaction in an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine. A magnetic field generator responds to a control signal by generating a varying magnetic field to inductively heat the emission control substrate. A magnetic field concentrator is configured and positioned to increase the radiated varying magnetic field in a region on the same side of the magnetic field concentrator as the emissions control substrate. The magnetic field concentrator also acts as a shield to reduce the radiated varying magnetic field in a region on the distal side of the magnetic field concentrator from the emissions control substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMISSION SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10590818
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an emission control system that includes an emission control device having a plurality of passages to facilitate emission control of an exhaust gas from a vehicle engine. A controller generates a control signal to initiate induction heating of the emission control device. An electromagnetic field generator responds to the control signal by generating a power signal applied to a coil to cause the induction heating of the emission control device, wherein a frequency of the power signal is adjusted to control a power transferred to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas
  • Patent number: 10590819
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an emission control system that includes an emission control device having a plurality of passages to facilitate emission control of an exhaust gas from a vehicle engine. A controller generates a control signal to control induction heating of the emission control device and determines a resonant frequency of a coil. An alternating current (AC) source responds to the control signal by generating a power signal applied to the coil to cause the induction heating of the emission control device, wherein a frequency of the power signal is selected based on the resonant frequency of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Crawford, John Douglas