Patents by Inventor Timothy Saunders

Timothy Saunders 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: 10352560
    Abstract: A pressure vessel includes a pump having a passage that extends between an inlet and an outlet. A duct at the pump outlet includes at least on dimension that is adjustable to facilitate forming a dynamic seal that limits backflow of gas through the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Timothy Saunders
  • Patent number: 9944465
    Abstract: A solid particulate pump includes a plurality of segments linked to each other in a serial, closed loop arrangement with gaps between neighboring pairs of the segments. A flexible seal extends across the gaps and seals an interior of the closed loop arrangement from an exterior of the closed loop arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Timothy Saunders
  • Publication number: 20180023809
    Abstract: A pressure vessel includes a pump having a passage that extends between an inlet and an outlet. A duct at the pump outlet includes at least on dimension that is adjustable to facilitate forming a dynamic seal that limits backflow of gas through the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Timothy SAUNDERS
  • Patent number: 9752776
    Abstract: A pressure vessel includes a pump having a passage that extends between an inlet and an outlet. A duct at the pump outlet includes at least one dimension that is adjustable to facilitate forming a dynamic seal that limits backflow of gas through the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Timothy Saunders
  • Patent number: 9512374
    Abstract: A particulate pump includes a posimetric rotary drive that has a hub affixed to a pair of discs. The posimetric rotary drive and chain together provides a working surface for a coal plug against a wall. A chain has a plurality of overlapping links and is integral with the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Timothy Saunders
  • Publication number: 20160097009
    Abstract: A particulate pump includes a posimetric rotary drive that has a hub affixed to a pair of discs. The posimetric rotary drive and chain together provides a working surface for a coal plug against a wall. A chain has a plurality of overlapping links and is integral with the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Timothy SAUNDERS
  • Publication number: 20160083187
    Abstract: A solid particulate pump includes a plurality of segments linked to each other in a serial, closed loop arrangement with gaps between neighboring pairs of the segments. A flexible seal extends across the gaps and seals an interior of the closed loop arrangement from an exterior of the closed loop arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Timothy SAUNDERS
  • Patent number: 8974157
    Abstract: An adjustable cargo storage press for organizing and securing cargo items stored in a cargo storage area of an automobile. The adjustable cargo storage press is disposed within or integrated with a cargo area of an automotive vehicle such as a trunk, bed or bed liner of a car, truck, or sport utility vehicle. The press prevents movement of cargo items and potential damage to the cargo items during transport. The press also maintains the position of the cargo items for easy removal from the cargo storage area. The press includes one or more hinged walls that lock in a vertical position and move towards each other along guide tracks. The one or more hinged walls compress the cargo items between the hinged walls, and fold flat when not in use so as not to limit cargo storage capacity of the cargo storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Jones, Raymond A. Beaufait, Timothy Saunders, Erik Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8857889
    Abstract: A door check system includes a rod interconnecting a door assembly and a body of a vehicle. The door check system secures the position of the door assembly at any location along a swing path of the door assembly, between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A coil spring is disposed about the rod, with the rod extending through a central aperture thereof. An actuator is coupled to the coil spring and configured for tightening and loosening the coil spring about the rod. When the actuator tightens the spring about the rod, the spring grasps the rod and secures the position of the door assembly relative to the body. When the actuator loosens the spring from about the rod, the door assembly is free to move along the swing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Carl W. Wellborn, Timothy Saunders, Erik Rasmussen, Mary Ellen DeCaluwe, Thomas E. Houck
  • Patent number: 8851406
    Abstract: A pump apparatus includes a particulate pump that defines a passage that extends from an inlet to an outlet. A duct is in flow communication with the outlet. The duct includes a deconsolidator configured to fragment particle agglomerates received from the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandrashekhar Sonwane, Timothy Saunders, Mark Andrew Fitzsimmons
  • Publication number: 20140097634
    Abstract: An adjustable cargo storage press for organizing and securing cargo items stored in a cargo storage area of an automobile. The adjustable cargo storage press is disposed within or integrated with a cargo area of an automotive vehicle such as a trunk, bed or bed liner of a car, truck, or sport utility vehicle. The press prevents movement of cargo items and potential damage to the cargo items during transport. The press also maintains the position of the cargo items for easy removal from the cargo storage area. The press includes one or more hinged walls that lock in a vertical position and move towards each other along guide tracks. The one or more hinged walls compress the cargo items between the hinged walls, and fold flat when not in use so as not to limit cargo storage capacity of the cargo storage area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Jones, Raymond A. Beaufait, Timothy Saunders, Erik Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8631927
    Abstract: A chain for a particulate material extrusion pump includes a plurality of links, each of the plurality of links having a link body and a link ledge, wherein each link ledge of the plurality of links at least partially overlaps the link body of an adjacent one of the plurality of links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Saunders, John D. Brady
  • Patent number: 8408424
    Abstract: An apparatus that promotes the flow of materials has a body having an inner shape for holding the materials, a wall having a shape that approximates a portion of the inner shape of the body, and a vibrator attached to the wall. The wall may be disposed vertically within the body close to the body's inner shape. The vibrator transfers vibrations to the wall to agitate the material and encourage material flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Saunders, John D. Brady
  • Publication number: 20130074412
    Abstract: A door check system includes a rod interconnecting a door assembly and a body of a vehicle. The door check system secures the position of the door at any location along a swing path of the door, between a fully open position and a fully closed position. The door check system includes a rod interconnecting the door assembly and the body. A coil spring is disposed about the rod, with the rod extending through a central aperture thereof. An actuator is coupled to the coil spring and configured for tightening and loosening the coil spring about the rod. When the actuator tightens the spring about the rod, the spring grasps the rod and secures the position of the door assembly relative to the body. When the actuator loosens the spring from about the rod, the door assembly is free to move along the swing path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Carl W. Wellborn, Timothy Saunders, Erik Rasmussen, Mary Ellen DeCaluwe, Thomas E. Houck
  • Publication number: 20130001975
    Abstract: An arrangement for housing a device in an interior of a vehicle is disclosed herein. The arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a trim component that is configured to be mounted within a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The trim component defines a cavity. The cavity is configured to substantially conform to the device, to engage with multiple surfaces of the device, and to support the device in a generally horizontal orientation. The trim component further defines an opening to the cavity. The arrangement further includes a retaining body that is connected to the trim component. The retaining body is configured to inhibit egress of the device from the cavity through the opening when the device is positioned within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. JONES, Timothy SAUNDERS, Raymond A. BEAUFAIT
  • Patent number: 8342583
    Abstract: A vehicle panel control system includes a vehicle panel and a handle pivotably connected to the vehicle panel. The handle is movable about a pivot point in a first direction to unlatch or move the panel. A switch is positioned to be closed when the handle is sufficiently moved in a second direction opposite the first direction, closure of the switch is operable to unlatch or move the panel. Thus, the unlatching or movement of the panel is accomplished by either of two different motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louise E. Stauffer, Timothy Saunders
  • Patent number: 8336941
    Abstract: An arrangement for housing a device in an interior of a vehicle is disclosed herein. The arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a trim component that is configured to be mounted within a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The trim component defines a cavity. The cavity is configured to substantially conform to the device, to engage with multiple surfaces of the device, and to support the device in a generally horizontal orientation. The trim component further defines an opening to the cavity. The arrangement further includes a retaining body that is connected to the trim component. The retaining body is configured to inhibit egress of the device from the cavity through the opening when the device is positioned within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Jones, Timothy Saunders, Raymond A. Beaufait
  • Publication number: 20120321444
    Abstract: A pump apparatus includes a particulate pump that defines a passage that extends from an inlet to an outlet. A duct is in flow communication with the outlet. The duct includes a deconsolidator configured to fragment particle agglomerates received from the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Chandrashekhar Sonwane, Timothy Saunders, Mark Andrew Fitzsimmons, Kenneth M. Sprouse
  • Patent number: 8307974
    Abstract: A track assembly for a particulate material extrusion pump according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a link assembly with a roller bearing. An insert mounted to a load beam located such that the roller bearing contacts the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Saunders, John D. Brady
  • Publication number: 20120186946
    Abstract: A track assembly for a particulate material extrusion pump according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a link assembly with a roller bearing. An insert mounted to a load beam located such that the roller bearing contacts the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Timothy Saunders, John D. Brady