Patents Represented by Attorney Roger A. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6095802
    Abstract: A cast aluminum burner base has a tubular inlet communicating with a cavity formed in an enlarged diameter flange remote from the inlet. The cavity is closed by a cast aluminum cap registered against the base. The base and cap are each castellated along the parting line such that the castellations are interdigitated. Grooves having semi-circular cross sections and formed radially across the castellations and the spaces between and close on the parting line to form circular cross section primary flame-generating ports. The castellations on the cap are truncated and tapered to provide flame stabilizing passages adjacent alternate flame-generating ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Kwiatek
  • Patent number: 6086413
    Abstract: A connector receptacle for simultaneously converting a plurality of individual wire leads in bayonet plug-in connection with a mating multiple pin wire harness connector. A conductive insert stamped from flat sheet stock has individual crimp-type wire lead terminals formed integrally therewith and extending outwardly from the margins of the insert. A plurality of barbed pin-receiving apertures are formed in the insert. Slots formed in the sheet stock form frangible webs interconnecting the material surrounding each of the barbed apertures. The insert is encapsulated with dielectric material preferably by molding and access openings in the dielectric material permit subsequent removal of the frangible webs to form individual electrically isolated connectors about each of barbed apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Boris G. Karasik, Vladimir Karasik
  • Patent number: 6085771
    Abstract: A two-stage venting on-board refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) valve for controlling fuel tank venting to a storage canister during tank filling. A float actuated poppet has a small second stage venting hole therethrough. The poppet is mounted for relative movement with respect to a second stage vent valve member disposed on the float. During tank filling, venting is through a first stage relatively large flow area passage until rising fuel level causes the poppet to close the first stage vent flow area. Venting during continued filling is through the second stage venting hole in the poppet. After first stage valve closure relative movement or lost motion occurs between the first and second stage valve members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Benjey, Rudolph Bergsma
  • Patent number: 6069329
    Abstract: A lever switch, in particular a steering column switch for a motor vehicle, comprises a housing (1) with connector contacts (5), a switch lever (10) supported in the housing (1), a switch element (30 and 32, respectively) actuated by the switch lever (10) and acting on switch contact paths (24), and comprises a switch gate (14), which resets the switch lever (10) or locks it in position. In order to provide a lever switch offering variable switching functions while permitting an economical and cost-effective manufacture at the same time, a predetermined layout of switch contact paths (14) is used for the implementation of different lever switching functions in that the division of the switch contact paths (24) is different, that the association and/or values of the resistors (25) relative to the switch contact paths (24) is different, and that different, interchangeable switch gates (14) are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Hans-Gunter Weiss, Holger Besier
  • Patent number: 6062484
    Abstract: An improved thermally responsive expansion valve for use in controlling flow of refrigerant in a circulating system has a cartridge sub-assembly with a fluid charged diaphragm capsule, an operating rod mechanism, a valve seat and captured valve obturator. A tubular extension with the valve seat is adjustably threaded onto the capsule. The cartridge subassembly may be thermally pre-calibrated before installation in a blind bore in a valve body. During calibration, the tubular extension is rotated to adjust the diaphragm and operating rod mechanism to provide the desired obturator movement from the valve seat at the calibration temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: William N. Eybergen
  • Patent number: 6054655
    Abstract: A power window switch (1) for a motor vehicle comprises an actuation element (2) which is pivotally supported in a housing (6) and actuates switch contacts (57) by means of a corresponding sliding contact element (35), whereby said switch contacts are associated with connector contacts (53). In the pushing direction for the downward motion of the window, as well as in the pulling direction for the upward motion of the window, the actuation element (2) is respectively associated with a two-step pivoting motion (19), whereby the actuation element (2) acts on deflecting means (38, 78) to effect a linear back and forth motion of the sliding contact element (35), which successively actuates two switch contacts (57) of a switch matrix (49).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Gerd Rudolph, Norbert Swidersky
  • Patent number: 6053472
    Abstract: A rotary solenoid operated valve assembly having the rotary journalled in a ball race in one end of a tubular pole piece extending through a coil. The tubular pole piece has the end distal the ball race received in the bottom of a cup-shaped stator which has salient poles on the open rim and which define radial air gaps with poles formed on the rotor. A cam formed on the rotor moves a ball valve member in a direction transverse to the rotor axis for controlling flow over a valve seat provided in an inlet or outlet port. The rotor is balanced about its axis of rotation to prevent cam movement when the valve is subjected to vibration in a direction transverse to the rotor axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel L. DeLand
  • Patent number: 6050623
    Abstract: A latchbolt assembly having a carrier with a solenoid operator mounted on the carrier is slidably received in a base or mounting cap with an annular groove formed in the carrier with a projection formed in the groove at a vertically downward location. A split ring is received in the groove with the projection orienting the gaps in the split ring and the split ring is compressed radially for sealing between the carrier and a base. A latchbolt is slidably received in the carrier and is connected to the solenoid armature for movement to the unlocking position upon energization of the solenoid. A cable extends through the housing and armature and is connected to the latchbolt for manual retraction by the user pulling on the cable. The latchbolt assembly is particularly suitable for motor vehicle fuel filler door latching applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Lectron Products, Inc. (a subsidiary of Eaton Corporation)
    Inventors: Charles R. Martus, Charles A. Detweiler
  • Patent number: 6015133
    Abstract: An electrically controlled vacuum operated fuel vapor canister purge valve having a regulator valve subassembly with a vacuum signal chamber on one side of a pressure responsive power diaphragm which moves a regulator valve obturator for controlling flow from a vapor inlet passage to a vapor outlet passage for connection to an engine inlet. The vacuum signal chamber has a vacuum signal connection port and a recess or well with an atmospheric vent port and resiliently deflectable locking tab. A solenoid operated atmospheric bleed valve has a boss with a restrictor outlet which is quick-connected and seated in the well for electrically controlling vent flow into the vacuum signal chamber. The restrictor limits atmospheric bleed flow to attenuate the effects of sudden changes in the vacuum signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel L. DeLand
  • Patent number: 6016097
    Abstract: A motion transducer having a user moveable plunger which compresses a spring for generating a force proportional to plunger displacement and applying the generated force to an actuator telescoped onto the plunger. The actuator has an elastomeric pad on the surface which contacts and reacts the generated force onto a force/pressure sensitive resistive strip which varies its resistance with the changing force applied by the elastomeric pad. The changes in resistance may be electrically detected to give an indication of plunger travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Gardner
  • Patent number: 6016102
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) allows atmospheric pressure into an environmentally sealed enclosure for creating an equilibrium that allows a sensor (28) make a proper measurement. A slot or opening (26) in the cover (14) exposes outside atmospheric air to a restricted portion of a gas permeable membrane (18). The membrane (18) allows a selected gas to pass through the membrane (18) creating the equilibrium in the housing (12). A gasket (16) positioned between the cover (14) and housing (12) seals the housing in an air tight manner except for the gases allowed in through the membrane (18). Pressure sensor (28) can then make a more accurate measurement. Apparatus (10) finds particular utility in a low pressure tire management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: G. Clark Fortune, Thomas J. Waraksa, James K. Spring, John D. Prainito
  • Patent number: 6012947
    Abstract: A system for fixing one of two plugs (3, 4) of an electrical connector to a mechanical device (1), the one plug (4) being designed to be connected thereto in a detachable manner, the other plug (3) being attached to an assembly (2) to which the device (1) has just been coupled mechanically along an axis parallel to the axis of the electrical coupling, characterized in that it includes means for assembling/disassembling the plug (4) to and from the said mechanical device (1), the assembly/disassembly being carried out parallel to the coupling axes, assembly being made simply by clipping, while disassembly is carried out simply by pulling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Olivier Zann, Henri Ullius, Jose Ramon Sanz Pinedo, Luis Gras Tous
  • Patent number: 6013884
    Abstract: An electrical, manually actuated switch comprises a housing (11), in which a contact unit (27) is located that comprises switch elements (26), and at least one self-returning and eccentrically mounted switch (10) having a switch tappet (29) that acts on the switch elements (26). The manually actuated switch (9) is to be adapted to prevent a damaging or destruction of the switch elements (26) even under excessive loading. To achieve this object, the contact unit (27) is resiliently or spring mounted in a housing (11) and yields to excessive application of force to the switch elements (26) by the switch tappet (29), wherein a spring unit (60) is located between the contact unit (27) and the base (20) of the housing (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Gerd Rudolph, Erhard Lange
  • Patent number: 6011228
    Abstract: A push-button nonrestoring switch having a push-button pivoted on a switch housing with a rocker switching member pivoted on the housing, with a tappet member pivoted on the push-button and engaging the rocker switching member for effecting toggled movement from a neutral to a switching position either side of the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Controls GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Leng
  • Patent number: 6008637
    Abstract: Operational diagnostic system for an angle detector (C) which measures the angle of a rotating part (2) via at least two dual-state logic signals (A, B) processed by an electronic device which encodes them as the weighted sum of their voltages in order to produce an analog signal at a voltage which is always greater than a predefined threshold when angle detector (C) functions normally, in such a way that the value of the measured angle is transmitted over a single electrical connection (S) connecting the output of angle detector (C) to a processing device (U) of the processor type, and the connection (S) is also used by the processing device (U) to transmit the command signal to start testing of the operation of the detector (C), and to transmit the result information from the detector (C) to the processing device (U), and features the following:an electronic device which lowers the voltage of detector C's output signal below the predefined threshold in response to a diagnostic command signal from the proces
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Corbier
  • Patent number: 5996607
    Abstract: A combination fuel tank rollover valve, float actuated fill vent shutoff and tank vapor pressure relief valve assembly in a common housing for assembly into a single access opening in the tank. A header containing the pressure relief valve is sealed over the tank access opening and has an extension member attached to the undersurface of the header with an extension neck extending through the access opening. An interchangeable vent float valve subassembly is attached to the end of the neck before attachment of the extension to the header and assembly on the tank. Tanks of different depth can be accommodated simply by using extension members having a correspondingly different length necks, while the float valve subassembly and header are interchangeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Rudolph Bergsma, Vaughn Mills, Kenneth M. Spink, Robert P. Benjey
  • Patent number: 5992894
    Abstract: A quick-connect for attaching plural conduits to a fluid communicating ported block or valve. A recess provided in the block face between the ports has an attachment member, received in the recess and retained on the block by through-bolting from the back side of the block. A snap ring is retained between the attachment member and the block. The conduits are prepared with a convolution and an end fitting spaced from the convolution with a seal ring on the end fitting. A retaining plate has the spaced portion of each conduit received in an edge cutout. The retaining plate has a barbed stud mounted between the conduits; and, the conduit ends with seal rings are inserted in the block ports and the stud inserted in a hole in the attachment member to engage the captured snap ring. Removal of the through bolts from the backside is required for disassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: William N. Eybergen
  • Patent number: 5990584
    Abstract: A permanent magnet D.C. torque motor has the stator mounted in cantilever from a base and nested in a cup-shaped rotor journalled for rotation on the base. The permanent magnets are disposed about the inner periphery of the rotor. The stator core has a plurality of radially outwardly directed webs with coils therearound and may be formed integrally as one-piece or laminated. The pole segments may be integrally formed with the web or attached as separate members. The pole segments have truncated cylindrical pole shoe surfaces forming radial air gaps with the rotor magnets. The pole segments extend axially and transversely beyond the webs. The axial pole segment extensions provide increased total flux for a given motor volume without an increase in ampere turns of electrical energization. The motor of the present invention is particularly suitable as an engine air throttle actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Luo, David Turner, Charles A. Detweiler
  • Patent number: 5986353
    Abstract: A switching system for plural electrical loads connected to a common power line and each individually energized by a separate user actuated line switch between the respective load and the line. A separate normally closed, electrically opened safety switch is series connected with each of the line switches. Separate sensors, preferably diodes, are connected respectively to each load and each sensor also connected to electrically open each of the remaining safety switches upon sensing voltage to its respective load. Preferably the safety switches are electromagnetic relays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Joachim Kohler
  • Patent number: 5979780
    Abstract: A mechanical thermostatic refrigerant expansion valve assembly with an electrically operated shut-off in the inlet to the valve body. Preferably, the electrical operator is a solenoid attached to the valve body on the end opposite the mechanical thermal responsive valve actuator so as to minimize the changes in the manufacturing of an existing valve body. The solenoid armature moves a secondary valving member spring biased to shut off flow in the valve inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Malone, William N. Eybergen