Patents Represented by Attorney R. B. Megley

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  • Pressure control valve and system
    Patent number: 5035357
    Abstract: A pressure control system, including a pilot valve suitable for use therein, for providing a constant pressure from a non-compensated pump to a plurality of nozzle valves controlling flow from a manifold to nozzles associated with the valves, including a pressure control valve interposed between the pump and the manifold which is response to a control pressure created by a pilot valve which reduces manifold pressure to the control pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph W. Brickell, Steven W. Post
  • Amphibious hydrofoil vehicle
    Patent number: 5027737
    Abstract: A power driven tracked amphibious vehicle is disclosed for moving troops from ships to shore at speeds in excess of 25 miles per hour. The vehicle includes a pair of hydrofoil assemblies each pivoted to the vehicle for movement between an operative water mode position with the hydrofoils and inline water jet propulsion units submerged in water for propelling the vehicle while in water, and a land mode with the hydrofoils and water jet propulsion units raised above the tracks for propelling the vehicle on land. When in the water mode the tracks are raised a short distance, and the track covers and bow flaps are positioned below the tracks for minimizing drag on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan Duffty, Waldo E. Rodler, Jr., Hans F. Woehrmann
  • Book container
    Patent number: 5022527
    Abstract: A container for holding books during transport and treatment with a liquid including a means which can be moved between a pressing position to hold the books securely during transport and a relaxed position in which the books are free to separate to facilitate penetration of the treatment liquid and the escape of moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Robert O. Braeutigam
  • Filling machine
    Patent number: 5000235
    Abstract: A rotatable gravity filler capable of high speed filing of containers sealable with lids having a sprocket for providing stable support for each container, a shield disk to catch and removed drips, and a gate arrangement which closes tightly to prevent drips but is easily removable for cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: James K. Jourdan
  • Induction coil with lapped joint
    Patent number: 4994637
    Abstract: A single turn induction coil which provides uniform sealing of lids to plastic containers. A first end of the coil overlaps a second end of the coil with the ends being tapered to form a single complete ring. An electrical current is coupled to the overlapped portions of the first and second end of the coil so the electrical current flows for more than 360.degree. around the coil. This provides an induced electrical current around a container lid adjacent to the coil and provides heating of the complete circumference of the lid. A variety of shapes of containers and matching lids can be used with the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Jin-Liou Fang, J. Kirkwood H. Rough
  • Water jet propulsion module
    Patent number: 4993977
    Abstract: A water jet propulsion module is generated about a central axis and has an inlet opening and a discharge opening concentric with said axis. The module includes a stator having an inner wall and an outer wall with curved stator vanes connected between said inner and outer walls. An impeller shroud is adjustably connected to the outer stator wall. A motor secured to the stator drives a planetary gear drive attached to an impeller by a parabolic impeller cone. The impeller draws water into the inlet opening and drives the water past the stator vanes out of the discharge opening along a substantially linear path at high speed and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Waldo E. Rodler, Jr.
  • Sensor mounting
    Patent number: 4989783
    Abstract: An air sprayer having an array of vertically arranged transducers mounted in a recess of a shaped forward shroud, which recess forms a plenum into which air is directed by a fan. Each transducer is carried by a pivotal housing which effectively seals the plenum to force air supplied thereto by the fan to exhaust through channels in a cone to protect the transducer from trash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Barry D. Douglas
  • Cleaner for filler nozzles
    Patent number: 4987934
    Abstract: A cleaner for a filler which includes a plurality of cylinders arranged in a circle and rotated with a nozzle associated with each cylinder wherein an upper seal encircles and rotates with the cylinders, a vacuum manifold having a cavity is fixed against rotation, a seal plate attached to the top of the manifold forms with the upper seal, a flow chamber with the nozzles positioned therein and a seal plate provides communication between the flow chamber and the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Stanley A. Groom
  • Container translating and orienting apparatus and method
    Patent number: 4981209
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for controlling the movement of flat bottomed articles in a plurality of different directions relative to a supporting platform. The article is supported on a plurality of clusters of helical, freely rotatable rollers mounted on a plurality of shafts. Selected ones of the shafts, or groups of shafts, each lying in one of a plurality of zones, are selectively driven in a clockwise direction, a counterclockwise direction or are held in stationary. Selective control of the shafts enable the apparatus to move the article parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform in two selected directions, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in two selected directions; diagonally of the longitudinal axis in four selected directions, and either clock or counterclockwise about an axis normal to the flat bottom of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Sogge
  • Integrated propulsion and hydrofoil system
    Patent number: 4974539
    Abstract: A pair of integrated water propulsion and hydrofoil systems capable of moving through water at speeds of at least 20 miles per hour are disclosed, each hydrofoil system having a hydrofoil and a mounting leg removably secured to a water propulsion system. The mounting legs are supported on opposite sides of the watercraft for moving the hydrofoils between a water mode and a land mode. The water propulsion system may be an inline water jet, and the hydrofoils may be formed from interconnected lightweight hollow beams with power operated flaps on the trailing portions of the hydrofoils for adding more lift when moving at slow speeds through water. The watercraft may be a military amphibious vehicle weighing about 30 tons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan Duffty, Waldo E. Rodler, Jr., Christopher D. Barry, Hans F. Woehrmann
  • Plant harvester
    Patent number: 4965993
    Abstract: A mobile plant harvester for harvesting plants having foliage or vines such as cucumbers, includes an inclined main conveyor having an upper run and an inclined gripping conveyor supported by a vertically adjustable sub-frame and having an arcuate lower and upper end portions and parallel upper and lower runs. The foliage gripping conveyor includes a plurality of foliage gripping bars which open when moving around the lower arcuate end portion to gently gather the foliage and crop and then close to grip the foliage and transport the foliage and crop upwardly for release onto the main conveyor with a minimum of crop loss. The harvester also includes means for cutting the foliage horizontally, and means for maintaining the foliage gripping conveyor and foliage cutters at the desired height when moving over rough ground are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Lee D. Butler, Franklin P. Orlando, Don H. Lenker
  • Water supporting and propulsion systems
    Patent number: 4953492
    Abstract: An improved watercraft and propulsion system is disclosed for moving a watercraft such as an amphibious vehicle or a speed boat from 0 velocity to speeds in excess of 20 miles per hour. Each watercraft includes water propulsion systems which are preferably pivotally mounted on or near the rear end of the watercraft for pivotal movement between a transversely aligned stowed position above the vehicle and an operative position within the watercraft and below the vehicle. Hydrofoils may be connected to the water propulsion system, and bow or transom flaps plus the planing hull of the vehicle aids in providing adequate lift when in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan Duffty
  • Demonstrator device for tire eccentricities
    Patent number: 4952154
    Abstract: Devices for demonstrating the effect that eccentricities in a tire and rim can have when the combination is rotated having a circular member representing a rim mounted for rotation about a center different from its geometric center and an annular member representing a tire with a varying radial dimension is positioned and retained at a plurality of angular positions on the circle member. An indicator operatively associated with the annular member represents the resulting eccentricity of both members. A similar hand-held device represents that combined eccentricity by conveying vibrations through a handle to the operator's hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventors: Carl W. Pruitt, Niall F. Davidson
  • Height control system
    Patent number: 4944141
    Abstract: A height control system is disclosed for use on a harvester and includes at least one lightweight wheel which rides over the crop being harvested at a location forwardly of the vehicle in an undisturbed area of the crop without damaging the crop. The wheel detects upward or downward inclined portions of the ground and controls power means which raises or lowers at least one plant handling component of the harvester for maintaining the component at the desired elevation relative to the ground. The system also includes control means which sense varying ground speed and prevents undesirable jerky raising and lowering of the conveying components in response to the wheel riding over small articles such as rocks at different speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Franklin P. Orlando, Lee D. Butler, Donald A. Luttrell, Joseph S. Goulart
  • Multi-directional vibratory conveyor
    Patent number: 4944381
    Abstract: A multi-directional vibratory conveyor is disclosed which includes a vibratory base plate which supports a plurality of fingers that project through holes in an alignment grill and in an adjustable grill. An article supported on the fingers is moved rectilinearly in a multiplicity of directions by moving the alignment grill rectilinearly, and is moved along a curved path by rotating the alignment grill a small amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Terry M. Riley
  • Corn cutter and system
    Patent number: 4943259
    Abstract: A corn cutter unit in which an ear of corn is propelled by a plurality of feed rollers into a plurality of knives carried by a rotating head, with the knives being adjustable to define an opening through which the cob may pass, and a cob puller having upper and lower chains, each of which is formed of links and driven by sprockets over a guide, which guide has a height substantially equal to the length of the individual chain links to extend through said head and grip the corn cob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Eugene F. Felstehausen
  • Method for separation of defects from citrus juice
    Patent number: 4942051
    Abstract: An inexpensive method for extracting high quality juice from fruit while obtaining a high yield. The unfinished products are pressed in a small screen finisher to obtain a finished liquid and a wet pulp. The wet pulp is hard pressed in a large screen finisher to produce a pulpy liquid and a dry pulp and the pulpy liquid is recycled through the small screen finisher to produce a finished liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Gioacchino Sardisco
  • Plastic cutlery feeder
    Patent number: 4938338
    Abstract: A plastic cutlery feeder for receiving a backlog of cutlery items from a source and for feeding individual items in proper orientation and proper phase to a flighted conveyor of a wrapping machine. The backlogged items are received in a vertically oriented position by the cutlery feeder which changes the items to a horizontal orientation with a single item supplied to each flight of the wrapping machine conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Donald C. Crawford, Kenneth H. LaCount
  • Apparatus for quick disconnect of an arc welder torch
    Patent number: 4939339
    Abstract: Apparatus for the quick connect and disconnect of a welding and a cutting torch includes a plurality of quick connectors. An outer portion of a quick connector carries electrical current which provides electrical power for an electric arc welder and an axial bore in the connector carries a liquid to provide cooling of the torch. Other quick connectors carry gas or liquid between the torch and sources of supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby W. Folkening, Ronald R. Stringer
  • Fatigue life of a component such as a bar
    Patent number: 4939042
    Abstract: The outer surface of an elongated metal component such as a bar is rapidly heated by an induction coil and is thereafter cooled by a quenching spray while being subjected to tensile forces so high that the center portion of the bar approaches yield causing the bar to elongate slightly. The tension on the bar is released thereby obtaining high residual compressive surface stresses in the cooled outer layers of the bar which define an annulus and which shortens the bar slightly until compressive stresses in the surface layers equal the tensile stresses acting on the central sections of the bar thereby greatly improving the fatigue life of the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Erik Thuse