Patents by Inventor Roderick MacWilliam

Roderick MacWilliam 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: 8372208
    Abstract: In an automatic wash, a control unit operates a boom arm around a vehicle in a bay by moving a bridge along a lengthwise vehicle orientation, moving a trolley on the bridge along a widthwise vehicle orientation, and rotating the boom arm about the trolley. The boom arm is coupled to a mount which is flexibly coupled to the trolley such that boom arm impact displaces the mount and the trolley. The displacement may be two-dimensional and/or angular. In response, the control unit determines whether an impact has occurred by comparing the data to a baseline. If there is an impact, the control unit relocates the boom arm and may continue the wash process. If a sufficient force impact occurs that the control unit cannot correct, the boom arm may disengage from the mount which may trigger a breakaway sensor and cause the control unit to abandon the wash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Mark VII Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Gauthier, Roderick MacWilliam
  • Publication number: 20120048315
    Abstract: In an automatic wash, a control unit operates a boom arm around a vehicle in a bay by moving a bridge along a lengthwise vehicle orientation, moving a trolley on the bridge along a widthwise vehicle orientation, and rotating the boom arm about the trolley. The boom arm is coupled to a mount which is flexibly coupled to the trolley such that boom arm impact displaces the mount and the trolley. The displacement may be two-dimensional and/or angular. In response, the control unit determines whether an impact has occurred by comparing the data to a baseline. If there is an impact, the control unit relocates the boom arm and may continue the wash process. If a sufficient force impact occurs that the control unit cannot correct, the boom arm may disengage from the mount which may trigger a breakaway sensor and cause the control unit to abandon the wash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Gregory D. Rollins, Matthew Kenneth Lambert, Jesse Aaron Weifenbach, Roderick MacWilliam
  • Publication number: 20110276186
    Abstract: In an automatic wash, a control unit operates a boom arm around a vehicle in a bay by moving a bridge along a lengthwise vehicle orientation, moving a trolley on the bridge along a widthwise vehicle orientation, and rotating the boom arm about the trolley. The boom arm is coupled to a mount which is flexibly coupled to the trolley such that boom arm impact displaces the mount and the trolley. The displacement may be two-dimensional and/or angular. In response, the control unit determines whether an impact has occurred by comparing the data to a baseline. If there is an impact, the control unit relocates the boom arm and may continue the wash process. If a sufficient force impact occurs that the control unit cannot correct, the boom arm may disengage from the mount which may trigger a breakaway sensor and cause the control unit to abandon the wash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Mark VII Equipment
    Inventors: David M. Gauthier, Roderick MacWilliam
  • Publication number: 20110271988
    Abstract: A pivotable, dual pressure spray arm assembly has at least one high-pressure nozzle and at least one low-pressure nozzle. A single fluid conduit transports fluid through a pivot mount to the spray arm. A diverter valve mounted on the spray arm includes an inlet configured to alternately receive a high-pressure fluid and a low-pressure fluid from the single fluid conduit, a first outlet configured to distribute the high-pressure fluid to the high-pressure nozzles, and a second outlet configured to distribute the low-pressure fluid to the low-pressure nozzles. The diverter valve automatically switches fluid flow between the first and second outlets in response to the fluid pressure received at the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Mark VII Equipment Inc.
    Inventors: Roderick MacWilliam, Michael W. Mingee
  • Publication number: 20050093321
    Abstract: An overhead console assembly for a vehicle. The console assembly is mounted to extend in an overhead position between the windshield of the vehicle and a portion of the safety bar arrangement. The console assembly is intended to stay in place whether or not the vehicle has a top. Additionally, the console assembly is designed to be used with any number of conventional hard and soft tops without interfering with their attachment to the vehicle or normal operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Roderick MacWilliam, Frank Borke