Patents by Inventor Stephen A. McCormick

Stephen A. McCormick 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: 20130152618
    Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus includes a housing having a sidewall defining a chamber in the housing for containing a cryogen; and a first insulation member movably mounted for coaction with the sidewall, the first insulation member moveable to a position to expose or cover a select portion of the sidewall to provide a heat transfer effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: Stephen A. McCORMICK
  • Publication number: 20130125562
    Abstract: An impingement plate atomizer apparatus includes a longitudinal member having an upper surface sized and shaped to receive a liquid cryogen thereon, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and at least one hole extending through the longitudinal member; and an ultrasonic transducer in contact with the longitudinal member for providing ultrasonic energy thereto for atomizing the liquid cryogen at the upper surface into a cryogen fog.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCORMICK, Michael D. Newman
  • Publication number: 20130125576
    Abstract: A freezer for a product includes a housing having a space therein, and an inlet and an outlet in communication with the space; a conveyor having a first side for conveying the product through the space, and a second side opposite to the first side; an agitating apparatus disposed proximate the conveyor for contacting the conveyor at select intervals to agitate the conveyor and displace the product at the first side; a first longitudinal member disposed proximate the first side of the conveyor and having at least one hole extending therethrough; and at least one circulation device disposed in the space proximate the longitudinal member for directing a cryogenic substance through the at least one hole onto the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Michael D. NEWMAN, Stephen A. McCORMICK
  • Publication number: 20130098070
    Abstract: A pressure control apparatus for a cryogenic storage tank includes a heat pipe extending into the storage tank and having a first end in contact with liquid cryogen in the storage tank, and a second end exposed to an atmosphere external to the storage tank such that heat flux occurs in the liquid cryogen proximate the first end of the heat pipe for providing a cryogenic gas and pressure to the liquid cryogen in the storage tank. Another embodiment includes a sleeve for the second end to control the heat flux in the liquid cryogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCORMICK, Michael D. NEWMAN
  • Publication number: 20130008185
    Abstract: A cryogen cylinder includes a tank having a side wall defining a chamber for containing a cryogenic substance in the tank; and a plate assembly mounted in the chamber, the plate assembly constructed and arranged to provide a passageway for vapor from the cryogenic substance to be introduced into the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Michael D. NEWMAN, Stephen A. McCORMICK
  • Publication number: 20130008188
    Abstract: A cryogen heat exchanger includes a container having a sidewall defining a chamber in the container for containing a cryogen, and at least one heat exchange assembly having a first portion disposed in the chamber and extending through the sidewall to a second portion disposed in an atmosphere of a space external to the chamber and at an opposite side of the sidewall for providing heat transfer to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCORMICK, Michael D. Newman
  • Publication number: 20130008631
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a housing disposed in a first atmosphere and having an upstream end, a downstream end and a chamber within the housing; a metallic block disposed in the chamber and having a passageway therethrough and through which a cryogen can flow; and a heat pipe assembly in contact with the metallic block and extending to a second atmosphere which is separate from the first atmosphere for providing heat transfer at the second atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Michael D. NEWMAN, Stephen A. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20120324939
    Abstract: An air conditioner apparatus includes an exhaust pipe having a first end in communication with exhaust gas from an exhaust generating device disposed in a first atmosphere with a first temperature, and a second end discharging the exhaust gas to a second atmosphere with a second temperature; an inlet pipe substantially surrounding the exhaust pipe, the inlet pipe spaced apart from the exhaust pipe for providing a space therebetween and having a first end in communication with the first atmosphere and a second end in communication with the second atmosphere and through which the second atmosphere is introduced into the space; and a guide assembly disposed in the space for guiding the second atmosphere through the space for heat transfer with the exhaust gas moving through the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Michael D. NEWMAN, Stephen A. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20120318884
    Abstract: An impingement plate atomizer apparatus includes an electrostatically charged longitudinal member having an upper surface sized and shaped to receive a liquid cryogen thereon, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and at least one hole extending through the longitudinal member; an ultrasonic transducer in contact with the longitudinal member for providing ultrasonic energy thereto for atomizing the liquid cryogen into an electrostatically charged cryogen fog. A method is also provided for providing an electrostatically charged cryogen fog.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCormick, Michael D. Newman
  • Patent number: 8333087
    Abstract: A heat transfer system for refrigeration and/or heating of products includes a housing having an internal chamber, a baffle, a spiral pathway around the baffle, a gas flow pathway and a blower to circulate gas along the gas flow pathway. The baffle separates the chamber into upper and lower portions. The spiral pathway includes an upper spiral pathway within the upper portion, and a lower spiral pathway within the lower portion. The gas flow pathway includes an upper gas flow pathway across the upper spiral pathway and a lower gas flow pathway across the lower spiral pathway in which gas flow in the upper and lower gas flow pathways defines a circulation loop. The width of the upper gas flow pathway and upper spiral pathway are similar, and the width of the lower gas flow pathway and lower spiral pathway are similar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Linde, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCormick, Michael Newman, Robert Muscato
  • Patent number: 8312989
    Abstract: A conveyor belt for transporting a product, includes a plurality of transport assemblies, each one of the plurality of transport assemblies comprising a side link assembly; a support assembly connected to the side link assembly; a product support member supported on the support assembly and adapted for displaceable movement with respect to the side link assembly and the support assembly; and an actuation member supporting the product support member with respect to the side link assembly and the support assembly, the actuation member coacting with the side link assembly for moving the product support member between a first position wherein the product support member is in a first plane of travel with respect to the side link assembly for conveying the product, and a second position wherein the product support member transitions to a second plane of travel with respect to the side link assembly different from the first plane of travel for providing a space between the product support member of each one of the p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCormick, Simon Shamoun
  • Publication number: 20120273165
    Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus for a product includes a housing having an internal chamber; a solid conveyor belt disposed within the internal chamber and arranged in a spiral configuration having upper and lower portions, the spiral configuration including an upper pathway within the upper portion, a lower pathway within the lower portion; a gas flow having an upper gas flow across the upper pathway, a lower gas flow across the lower pathway and in counter-flow to the upper gas flow, wherein the upper gas flow and the lower gas flow define a circulation loop; and a gas circulation device to induce the upper and lower gas flows along the circulation loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCormick, Michael D. Newman
  • Patent number: 8256608
    Abstract: A conveyor belt includes a conveying surface comprising a plurality of rod-shaped members each of which is constructed and arranged for vertical displacement with respect to each other for providing a space between adjacent ones of the plurality of rod-like members. The conveyor belt may also include a side link disposed at opposed ends of each one of the plurality of rod-shaped members, each one of the side links having at least one central aperture therein for receiving a corresponding end of the rod-shaped member for vertical displacement therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCormick, Simon Shamoun
  • Publication number: 20120145279
    Abstract: A sub cooled liquid delivery system includes at least one feed tank, at least one pressure building apparatus in fluid communication with the at least one feed tank, at least one weight measurement apparatus for measuring the weight of the at least one feed tank and a liquid present in the at least one feed tank, at least one fill conduit in fluid communication with the at least one feed tank for providing the liquid to the at least one feed tank, at least one feed conduit in fluid communication with the at least one feed tank for delivering a subcooled liquid to at least one liquid utilizing process, and at least one pressure building conduit in fluid communication with the at least one feed tank for increasing the pressure within the at least one feed tank. A method is also included to subcool liquid delivery using the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Simon Shamoun, John C. Kline, Stephen A. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20120047916
    Abstract: The following paragraph is to replace the previous version of the abstract, and includes markings to show all the changes made relative to the previous version: An apparatus and method for chilling or freezing a product includes a freezer having a freezing chamber therein in which a cryogenic substance is provided, and an inlet and an outlet in communication with the freezing chamber; and a plastic film belt constructed and arranged to transport the product from the inlet through the freezing chamber for exposure to the cryogenic substance to the outlet for removal of the product for further processing. The plastic film belt may be formed with one or a plurality of pockets to transport a corresponding amount of product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Jos WIJLENS, Stephen A. McCORMICK
  • Publication number: 20120047915
    Abstract: A conveyor belt for freezers includes at least one support member having an upper surface upon which product is supported for being conveyed, a lower surface opposed to said upper surface and at least one hole extending through the support member between the upper and lower surfaces for permitting fluid at the lower surface to pass through the at least one hole to the upper surface and contact the product thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCormick, Simon Shamoun
  • Publication number: 20120043187
    Abstract: A conveyor belt includes a conveying surface comprising a plurality of rod-shaped members each of which is constructed and arranged for vertical displacement with respect to each other for providing a space between adjacent ones of the plurality of rod-like members. The conveyor belt may also include a side link disposed at opposed ends of each one of the plurality of rod-shaped members, each one of the side links having at least one central aperture therein for receiving a corresponding end of the rod-shaped member for vertical displacement therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCormick, Simon Shamoun
  • Publication number: 20120024676
    Abstract: A conveyor belt for transporting a product, includes a plurality of transport assemblies, each one of the plurality of transport assemblies comprising a side link assembly; a support assembly connected to the side link assembly; a product support member supported on the support assembly and adapted for displaceable movement with respect to the side link assembly and the support assembly; and an actuation member supporting the product support member with respect to the side link assembly and the support assembly, the actuation member coacting with the side link assembly for moving the product support member between a first position wherein the product support member is in a first plane of travel with respect to the side link assembly for conveying the product, and a second position wherein the product support member transitions to a second plane of travel with respect to the side link assembly different from the first plane of travel for providing a space between the product support member of each one of the p
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCORMICK, Simon SHAMOUN
  • Publication number: 20120018281
    Abstract: A product support surface for a conveyor belt includes a pair of side links spaced apart by a rod connected therebetween; and a longitudinal member attached to the rod between the pair of side links, the longitudinal member having a surface to support a product thereon during a conveying mode and to be pivoted with respect to the pair of side links during a cleaning mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCormick, Robert Muscato, Michael D. Newman
  • Publication number: 20110265492
    Abstract: A freezer for reducing the temperature of product is provided which includes a controller in communication with and for receiving signals from the cryogen delivery assembly, the cryogen flow assembly, the conveyor, the product measurement assembly and the first heat sensor, the controller responsive to the signals for controlling the cryogen flow assembly to provide an amount of the cryogen to the cryogen delivery assembly for application to the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Michael D. Newman, Stephen A. McCormick