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).

  • Patent number: 11752462
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Gregory R. Ashley, Fred W. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11596885
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Timothy Carritte
  • Patent number: 11441730
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: William Plow, Stephen Howe, Mark A. Matko
  • Patent number: 11420137
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Fred W. Hoffman, Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Gregory R. Ashley
  • Publication number: 20220010926
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: William Plow, Stephen Howe, Mark A. Matko
  • Patent number: 11207639
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry
  • Publication number: 20210283543
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Gregory R. Ashley, Fred W. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11118731
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: William Plow, Stephen Howe, Mark A Matko
  • Patent number: 11016020
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: David J Pfefferl, Stephen Howe, Timothy Carritte
  • Publication number: 20210146279
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Fred W. Hoffman, Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Gregory R. Ashley
  • Patent number: 10980375
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick E. Ciavarella, Stephen Howe, Seth Andrew Glasgow, Emily Barbara Kennedy, Donald R. Harris
  • Patent number: 10933351
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Fred W Hoffman, Stephen Howe, David W Perry, Gregory R Ashley
  • Publication number: 20200353389
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Timothy Carritte
  • Patent number: 10808779
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: BENDIX COMMERICAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Howe, Lawrence F. Gilboy
  • Patent number: 10807582
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Howe
  • Publication number: 20200319087
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: David J. Pfefferl, Stephen Howe, Timothy Carritte
  • Publication number: 20200318788
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: William Plow, Stephen Howe, Mark A Matko
  • Publication number: 20200179856
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry, Gregory R. Ashley, Fred W. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20200164305
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen Howe, David W. Perry
  • Patent number: 10583391
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Howe, David W Perry