Patents by Inventor Stephen Howe
Stephen Howe 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).
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Patent number: 11752462Abstract: An effluent processing apparatus comprises a housing having an inlet port and a chamber. A coalescing element is located in the chamber and arranged coaxially with the inlet port. The coalescing element has pleats in a predefined pattern of paths arranged to separate oil and water from an effluent mixture containing air, oil, and water. The effluent mixture flows into the inlet port along an axis of the coalescing element. The effluent mixture is deflected by a portion of the housing to flow perpendicular to the axis along major surfaces of the pleats to separate oil and water from the effluent mixture.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Gregory R. Ashley, Fred W. Hoffman
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Patent number: 11596885Abstract: An oil sequestering, air-drying cartridge device comprises a pair of tandem fluid diodes for respectively preventing backflow of moist air into an oil coalescing filter and preventing backflow of dry air into a desiccant material. The device comprises an outer cartridge skin and a middle shell concentrically nested between the cartridge skin and an inner shell. The middle shell houses channel walls having offset wave-like contours that prevent backflow of moist air into the oil filter, and the inner shell comprises similar channel walls that prevent backflow of dry air into the desiccant, which is positioned between the inner and middle shells.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Timothy Carritte
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Patent number: 11441730Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a high heat-generating vehicle component includes an air compressor assembly operable in a heat-generating mode, in which the air compressor assembly has a relatively low capability to absorb heat energy from a coolant that has passed through a high heat-generating vehicle component. The coolant may be passed through a heat exchanger submerged in an oil reservoir of the air compressor assembly to facilitate the heat exchange. The air compressor assembly can also be operated in a non-heat-generating mode, in which the air compressor assembly has a relatively higher capability to absorb heat energy from the coolant that has passed through the high heat-generating vehicle component.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2021Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: William Plow, Stephen Howe, Mark A. Matko
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Patent number: 11420137Abstract: An effluent processing device includes an input port to receive an effluent mixture containing air, oil, and water. One or more baffles are positioned between the input port and at least one air outlet to deflect the effluent mixture to assist in separating the oil and the water from the air. A member positioned below the one or more baffles selectively allows only oil of the separated oil and water to pass from a first side of the member through openings in the member to a second side of the member. A sump is arranged to receive and retain the oil on the second side of the member as the oil passes from the first side to the second side. The effluent processing devices includes at least one air outlet through which air is exhausted to atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: Fred W. Hoffman, Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Gregory R. Ashley
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Publication number: 20220010926Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a high heat-generating vehicle component includes an air compressor assembly operable in a heat-generating mode, in which the air compressor assembly has a relatively low capability to absorb heat energy from a coolant that has passed through a high heat-generating vehicle component. The coolant may be passed through a heat exchanger submerged in an oil reservoir of the air compressor assembly to facilitate the heat exchange. The air compressor assembly can also be operated in a non-heat-generating mode, in which the air compressor assembly has a relatively higher capability to absorb heat energy from the coolant that has passed through the high heat-generating vehicle component.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: William Plow, Stephen Howe, Mark A. Matko
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Patent number: 11207639Abstract: An absorbent apparatus is provided for an air dryer purge air cleaner. The absorbent apparatus comprises a volume for containing absorbent material. The absorbent apparatus also comprises absorbent material that is both oleophilic and hydrophobic and is packed in the volume to provide a packed bed of absorbent material with a predetermined packing density. The packing of the material provides for a first and second flow path of an effluent stream through the absorbent material.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry
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Publication number: 20210283543Abstract: An effluent processing apparatus comprises a housing having an inlet port and a chamber. A coalescing element is located in the chamber and arranged coaxially with the inlet port. The coalescing element has pleats in a predefined pattern of paths arranged to separate oil and water from an effluent mixture containing air, oil, and water. The effluent mixture flows into the inlet port along an axis of the coalescing element. The effluent mixture is deflected by a portion of the housing to flow perpendicular to the axis along major surfaces of the pleats to separate oil and water from the effluent mixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Gregory R. Ashley, Fred W. Hoffman
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Patent number: 11118731Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cooling a high heat-generating vehicle component having a coolant loop. The apparatus comprises an air compressor assembly including a heat-sinking portion that can be thermally coupled to the coolant loop to transfer heat energy away from the coolant loop to enhance cooling of the vehicle component.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: William Plow, Stephen Howe, Mark A Matko
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Patent number: 11016020Abstract: A device for monitoring humidity in a compressed air system comprises a light emitter; a light sensor; and a hygromorphic element. The hygromorphic element is exposed to a source of compressed air and positioned between the light emitter and the light sensor. The hygromorphic element changes the amount of light passing between the light emitter and the light sensor as the humidity in the compressed air increases.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: David J Pfefferl, Stephen Howe, Timothy Carritte
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Publication number: 20210146279Abstract: An effluent processing device includes an input port to receive an effluent mixture containing air, oil, and water. One or more baffles are positioned between the input port and at least one air outlet to deflect the effluent mixture to assist in separating the oil and the water from the air. A member positioned below the one or more baffles selectively allows only oil of the separated oil and water to pass from a first side of the member through openings in the member to a second side of the member. A sump is arranged to receive and retain the oil on the second side of the member as the oil passes from the first side to the second side. The effluent processing devices includes at least one air outlet through which air is exhausted to atmosphere.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Fred W. Hoffman, Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Gregory R. Ashley
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Patent number: 10980375Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of universal mounting brackets and dispensers with mounting brackets are disclosed herein. An exemplary universal dispenser mounting bracket includes a base. The base has a first surface for connecting to a dispenser. A first spring arm extends from the base in a first direction and has a first arm clamp. A second spring arm extends from the base in a second direction and has a second arm clamp. The first and second spring arms have a rest position and a biased position. Moving the first and second spring arms away from their rest position generates a clamp force in the spring arms that urges the first and second spring arms toward their rest position. When the mounting bracket is mounted to a surface, the base is on a first side of the surface and the first and second clamp arms are on a second side of the surface and the clamp force generated by the spring arms secures the mounting bracket to the surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.Inventors: Nick E. Ciavarella, Stephen Howe, Seth Andrew Glasgow, Emily Barbara Kennedy, Donald R. Harris
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Patent number: 10933351Abstract: An effluent processing apparatus comprises a separator device arranged to receive an effluent mixture to separate oil and water from the effluent mixture and thereby to provide clean air. A member selectively allows either only oil or only water of the separated oil and water to pass from a first side of the member through openings in the member to a second side of the member. A sump is arranged to (i) receive and retain the oil on the first side if only water passes from the first side to the second side, and (ii) receive and retain the oil on the second side if only oil passes from the first side to the second side. Clean air from the separator device is exhausted through an air outlet to atmosphere, and water is drained through a water outlet to atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: Fred W Hoffman, Stephen Howe, David W Perry, Gregory R Ashley
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Publication number: 20200353389Abstract: An oil sequestering, air-drying cartridge device comprises a pair of tandem fluid diodes for respectively preventing backflow of moist air into an oil coalescing filter and preventing backflow of dry air into a desiccant material. The device comprises an outer cartridge skin and a middle shell concentrically nested between the cartridge skin and an inner shell. The middle shell houses channel walls having offset wave-like contours that prevent backflow of moist air into the oil filter, and the inner shell comprises similar channel walls that prevent backflow of dry air into the desiccant, which is positioned between the inner and middle shells.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2019Publication date: November 12, 2020Applicant: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Timothy Carritte
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Patent number: 10808779Abstract: A ratchet device for providing anti-reverse locking for a grounded slack comprises a pinwheel having flexible angled spokes circumferentially protruding therefrom and a pinion ring into which the pinwheel fits includes a plurality of angled teeth with which the angled spokes mate. The spokes flex and slide over the pinion ring teeth when the ratchet is advanced in a forward direction, and lock against the teeth when the ratchet is not being advanced.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: BENDIX COMMERICAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Stephen Howe, Lawrence F. Gilboy
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Patent number: 10807582Abstract: An effluent processing apparatus comprises a first processing stage in which oil and water are separated from an effluent mixture containing air, oil, and water from a purge valve of an air dryer. The effluent processing apparatus also comprises a second processing stage in which oil is extracted from the separated oil and water of the first processing stage. The effluent processing apparatus further comprises a third processing stage in which air from the first processing stage and water from the second processing stage are combined and exhausted to atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventor: Stephen Howe
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Publication number: 20200319087Abstract: A device for monitoring humidity in a compressed air system comprises a light emitter; a light sensor; and a hygromorphic element. The hygromorphic element is exposed to a source of compressed air and positioned between the light emitter and the light sensor. The hygromorphic element changes the amount of light passing between the light emitter and the light sensor as the humidity in the compressed air increases.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: David J. Pfefferl, Stephen Howe, Timothy Carritte
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Publication number: 20200318788Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cooling a high heat-generating vehicle component having a coolant loop. The apparatus comprises an air compressor assembly including a heat-sinking portion that can be thermally coupled to the coolant loop to transfer heat energy away from the coolant loop to enhance cooling of the vehicle component.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: William Plow, Stephen Howe, Mark A Matko
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Publication number: 20200179856Abstract: An effluent processing apparatus comprises a coalescing element arranged to separate oil and water from an effluent mixture containing air, oil, and water from a purge valve of an air dryer. The coalescing element includes a plurality of members which define a predefined pattern of paths along which the effluent mixture flows to separate oil and water therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2018Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Gregory R. Ashley, Fred W. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20200164305Abstract: An absorbent apparatus is provided for an air dryer purge air cleaner. The absorbent apparatus comprises a volume for containing absorbent material. The absorbent apparatus also comprises absorbent material that is both oleophilic and hydrophobic and is packed in the volume to provide a packed bed of absorbent material with a predetermined packing density. The packing of the material provides for a first and second flow path of an effluent stream through the absorbent material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2020Publication date: May 28, 2020Inventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry
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Patent number: 10583391Abstract: An absorbent apparatus is provided for an air dryer purge air cleaner. The absorbent apparatus comprises a volume for containing absorbent material. The absorbent apparatus also comprises absorbent material that is both oleophilic and hydrophobic and is packed in the volume to provide a packed bed of absorbent material with a predetermined packing density.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2017Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: Stephen Howe, David W Perry