Patents by Inventor Ronald A. Woodward

Ronald A. Woodward 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: 7429712
    Abstract: A welding-type device and gas system for use therewith are disclosed. The gas system of the welding-type device includes a canister that is constructed to contain a shielding gas therein and is connectable to the welding-type device. The canister is sized to be mounted to the welding-type device when it is attached thereto such that the welding-type device can be efficiently and conveniently transported from one location to another with the source of shielding gas securely affixed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Stanzel, John Breitbach, Ronald Woodward, Bruce Albrecht, John H. Pilarski
  • Publication number: 20080223830
    Abstract: A welding-type device and gas system for use therewith is disclosed. The welding-type device includes a power supply constructed to generate a welding-type power, a housing enclosing the power source, and a cylinder holder attached to an external surface of the housing. The device further includes a pressure vessel removably secured within the cylinder holder, the pressure vessel constructed to provide a shielding gas to a weld and having a height that is generally less than a height of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Eugene Gibbons, Kenneth A. Stanzel, John Breitbach, Ronald Woodward, Bruce Albrecht, John H. Pilarski
  • Patent number: 7423238
    Abstract: A wire feeder and gas system for use therewith is shown. The gas system of the wire feeder includes a canister that is constructed to contain a shielding gas therein and is connectable to the wire feeder. The canister is supported by the wire feeder when it is connected thereto such that the wire feeder can be efficiently and conveniently transported from one location to another with the source of shielding gas securely connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Stanzel, John Breitbach, Ronald Woodward
  • Patent number: 7411147
    Abstract: A gas bottle for welding-type devices, a shielding gas system, and a method for providing shielding gas to a weld are disclosed. The gas bottle has a valve constructed to be connected to a welding-type device and is preferably formed to fit within a cavity of a welding-type device. The gas bottle is constructed to provide shielding gas to the welding-type device immediately upon connection of the gas bottle to the welding-type device thereby eliminating a manual valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Stanzel, Ronald Woodward, John Breitbach
  • Publication number: 20080094850
    Abstract: An automotive lighting system employing semiconductor light sources includes LED light sources (52) which are mounted to an edge of a heat pipe (44) such that emitted light from the LED light sources travels toward a reflector (32) at the back of the housing (24) of the system, where it is reflected and/or focused forward through the lens (40) of the system. The heat pipe is thermally connected to a heat sink (35) which extends outside of the housing and which operates to remove heat from the LED light sources. The thickness of the heat pipe is significantly less than the size of the reflector, so that only a small amount of reflected light from the LED light sources is obscured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Ronald Woodward
  • Publication number: 20080062712
    Abstract: A headlamp comprising at least one array of illumination light sources, the light sources positioned substantially corresponding to a desired illumination beam pattern for the headlight, the light from the light source of the array being provided to a lens which projects the light in the illumination beam pattern. Preferably, the light is provided from LED light sources which are coupled to fiber optic cables to form the array of illumination source. Also preferably, the light sources can be illuminated in different patterns, to provide different illumination beam patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Ronald Woodward
  • Publication number: 20070258260
    Abstract: The headlamp system of the present invention includes a source array of semiconductor light sources and a lens system to produce a first component, such as spread light, of desired beam patterns and a source array of semiconductor light sources and a lens system to produce a second component, such as the hot spot components, of the desired beam patterns. Light from the semiconductor light sources of each source array is transferred to the respective lens system by a transfer device comprising a series of light pipes which capture light emitted by the semiconductor light sources and emit the captured light adjacent the respective lens systems. One or both source arrays can include additional semiconductor light sources which are selectively illuminated or extinguished to provide steering hot spots in the beam pattern to illuminate areas adjacent the vehicle over which the vehicle will be turned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: David Valcamp, Ronald Woodward
  • Publication number: 20070221628
    Abstract: A gas cylinder assembly for welding-type devices includes a gas cylinder having a neck portion, a base portion, and a body portion enclosing a cavity and constructed to receive a gas therein. The gas cylinder is configured to be enclosed in a welding-type device. A valve is disposed about the neck portion of the gas cylinder and is operatively separates the cavity from the atmosphere. The valve is operably engageable by a regulator constructed to allow flow of the gas therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Kenneth Stanzel, John Breitbach, Ronald Woodward
  • Publication number: 20070121333
    Abstract: A light engine to provide light from a plurality of semiconductor light sources in an automotive lighting system, such as a headlamp, includes at least two substrates each of which has semiconductor light sources mounted thereon. The semiconductor light sources are spaced from one another on the substrates for cooling purposes. The substrates also preferably include at least one layer of heat transfer material which assists in transferring waste heat from the semiconductor light sources to a heat sink or other cooling means. The light engine further includes at least one transfer device comprising a bundle of light pipes, one light pipe for each semiconductor light source, and each light pipe has a receiving end which is located adjacent a respect one semiconductor light source and an emitter end which is located in close proximity to the emitter end of each other light pipe emitter end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Inventors: Ronald Woodward, Ronald Hare, David Valcamp
  • Publication number: 20070120137
    Abstract: A modular semiconductor light source assembly includes a semiconductor light source, such as a light emitting diode, which is mounted on a substrate which supplies electricity to the light source and which assists in removing waste heat therefrom. Substantially all of the light emitted by the LED is transferred to a lens by a light pipe, the cross section of the light pipe increasing from the light source to the lens and the lens having a general D-shape such that the light pattern formed by the lens is constrained in a first direction orthogonal to a second direction. The assembly can be combined with other similar assemblies or other light sources in a light fixture to produce a desired overall beam pattern such as a automobile headlamp low beam or high beam pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Wilson, Chad Lambert, Ronald Woodward, Cole Cunnien
  • Publication number: 20060239024
    Abstract: Headlamp systems are provided that form desired beam patterns from light supplied by semiconductor light sources. The systems include a source array of semiconductor light sources and a lens system to produce the spread components of desired beam patterns and a source array of semiconductor light sources and a lens system to produce the hot spot components of the desired beam patterns. Light from the semiconductor light sources of each source array is transferred to the respective lens system by a transfer device comprising a series of fiber optic cables which capture light emitted by the semiconductor light sources and emit the captured light adjacent the respective lens systems. One or both source arrays can include additional semiconductor light sources which are selectively illuminated or extinguished to provide steering hot spots in the beam pattern to illuminate areas adjacent the vehicle over which the vehicle will be turned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: David Valcamp, Ronald Woodward
  • Publication number: 20060007698
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly for producing high and low beam patterns includes a housing having a reflector. The reflector includes high and low beam reflector surfaces. A light source is disposed within the housing for producing light rays projecting towards the high and low beam reflector surfaces. A plurality of shafts extends alongside the light source. A drive is operatively connected to the plurality of shafts for rotation thereof. A shield is connected to the plurality of shafts. Activation of the drive rotates the plurality of shafts to selectively move the shield between an open position, in which the light rays project towards and reflect off of the high beam reflector surfaces to produce the high beam pattern, and a closed position, in which the light rays project towards and reflect off of the low beam reflector surfaces to produce the low beam pattern while the shield blocks a portion of the light rays from projecting towards the high beam reflector surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventor: Ronald Woodward
  • Publication number: 20050252899
    Abstract: A wire feeder and gas system for use therewith is shown. The gas system of the wire feeder includes a canister that is constructed to contain a shielding gas therein and is connectable to the wire feeder. The canister is supported by the wire feeder when it is connected thereto such that the wire feeder can be efficiently and conveniently transported from one location to another with the source of shielding gas securely connected thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Kenneth Stanzel, John Breitbach, Ronald Woodward
  • Publication number: 20050252889
    Abstract: A gas bottle for welding-type devices, a shielding gas system, and a method for providing shielding gas to a weld are disclosed. The gas bottle has a valve constructed to be connected to a welding-type device and is preferably formed to fit within a cavity of a welding-type device. The gas bottle is constructed to provide shielding gas to the welding-type device immediately upon connection of the gas bottle to the welding-type device thereby eliminating a manual valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Kenneth Stanzel, Ronald Woodward, John Breitbach
  • Publication number: 20050252890
    Abstract: A welding-type device and gas system for use therewith are disclosed. The gas system of the welding-type device includes a canister that is constructed to contain a shielding gas therein and is connectable to the welding-type device. The canister is sized to be mounted to the welding-type device when it is attached thereto such that the welding-type device can be efficiently and conveniently transported from one location to another with the source of shielding gas securely affixed thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Kenneth Stanzel, John Breitbach, Ronald Woodward, Bruce Albrecht, John Pilarski
  • Patent number: 5390297
    Abstract: License management systems and methods allow licenses for a computer program to be available for use at each of a plurality of nodes of a network. If a valid license file at a local node contains an unexpired, available license, a license manager at the local node permits the computer program to be executed at the requesting local node. If no such license is available in a valid license file at such local node, the license manager searches the other nodes for a valid license file containing an unexpired, available license. In one embodiment, if an unexpired available license is located in a valid license file at a second (or "remote") node, the license manager transfers such license to the local node, and assigns and encrypts a unique identification to such transferred license. The original record of the transferred license is modified by erasing it from the license file at the remote node so that the transferred license is no longer available there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Auto-trol Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jon H. Barber, Ronald A. Woodward, Richard M. Burkley, Erwin L. Rehme, Matthew W. Jackson, Douglas M. Young
  • Patent number: 4070237
    Abstract: An automatic adjustable bleed valve having an angularly displaceable valve body provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening. A passageway interconnects a lower inlet and upper outlet openings. A gravity actuated displaceable valve element is mounted for guided movement in the passageway. A valve element seat is provided internally of the valve body about the inlet opening for receiving the valve element in close seated contact thereon. A stop element is provided internally of the body adjacent the outlet opening to limit the displacement of the valve element while permitting fluid passage from the inlet opening to the outlet opening about the valve element. A locking element is provided to hold the valve body in the desired angular position of adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1978
    Assignee: JWI Ltd.
    Inventor: Derrick Ronald Woodward