Patents Assigned to Edison International
  • Patent number: 4517542
    Abstract: A temperature and voltage compensated time delay relay includes first and second bimetallic, contact carrying elements chosen to deflect in a similar manner in accordance with variations in ambient temperature for maintaining the contact gap therebetween substantially constant despite ambient temperature changes. A heater coil is wrapped about a first one of the elements (active element) for controlling the deflection thereof toward the second element (stationary element) for closing the contacts of the elements in a predetermined time period. An automotive flasher circuit having normally closed contacts and a flashing rate "on" time which varies inversely proportionally with an increase in supply voltage, is coupled electrically between the supply voltage and bimetallic element heating coil to control and keep relatively constant the rate of heat rise in the active bimetallic element and thus to maintain the time delay period of the relay relatively constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Edison International Inc.
    Inventor: Hemming G. Siiberg
  • Patent number: 4508315
    Abstract: A valve seal for a butterfly valve comprises a U-shaped annular seating member disposed in an annular slot in the valve body and a retaining ring for holding the seating member in place. The seating member cross-section comprises two legs and a bight portion connecting them. A first one of the legs is captured between the retaining ring and valve body to hold the seating member in the slot and enable limited rotational movement of the seating member. A radially inwardly projecting extension on the bight terminates in an annular sealing surface that cooperates with the valve disc. The seating member divides the slot into first and second axial sides in fluid pressure communication with the valve chamber. The seal also comprises an annular open-helical back-up member disposed in an annular cavity formed in the slot by the legs and bight portion of the seating member. The annular cavity is in fluid pressure communication with the second axial side of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Edison International Inc.
    Inventors: Carl F. Livorsi, Joseph A. Wucik, Jr., Philip J. Dorrian, Lawrence F. Struzik
  • Patent number: 4492895
    Abstract: An incandescent lamp for use in the headlamp of an automotive vehicle includes a low beam and a high beam filament mounted in a gas-filled, sealed envelope. The filaments are generally parallel, in closely adjacent, overlapping physical relation and each filament includes first and second similarly positioned ends. The lamp is electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of the vehicle battery via a switch for energizing the high beam filament momentarily in a "flash to pass" mode while the low beam filament remains energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Powell
  • Patent number: 4491358
    Abstract: A clamp suitable for a wide variety of uses is provided. The clamp is particularly suitable for selectively either rotating a variety of standard structural workpieces so that they rest on a new base after a lift, or lifting workpieces so that they rest on their original base after a lift. The invention includes a swivel pad having at least two faces and a settable jaw for retaining workpieces. A selection of one face to engage a workpiece will cause it to rest on a new base after a lift, and the selection of another will cause the workpiece to rest on its original base after a lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: Moon Choung
  • Patent number: 4431369
    Abstract: A governor control linkage assembly to be connected between the governor and a valve to be controlled by the governor such as the inlet valve for a steam turbine upstream from a venturi type safety trip valve therein in one preferred form with Woodward T.G.-10 governors has a main lever arm connected at one end to the governor for actuation thereof and to the opposite end to a pivot arm on a fulcrum assembly which permits the pivot arm to be moved by a manually operable threaded assembly connected thereto so as to move the inlet valve from open to closed position and from closed to open position when the turbine is shut down to aid in the restarting thereof. In another preferred form with Woodward P.G.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Edison International
    Inventor: George M. Lucas
  • Patent number: 4410830
    Abstract: The invention relates to vacuum fluorescent devices having substrates on which anodes coated with fluorescent material are disposed. According to the invention, the substrate comprises a relatively thin layer of insulation on a metal plate so that the acceleration potential in the vacuum fluorescent device may be increased for greater brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Edison International Inc.
    Inventor: Richard DuBois, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4402134
    Abstract: A high vacuum fluorescent display device contains solid state drive circuitry within a unitary evacuated container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard DuBois
  • Patent number: 4391847
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for an opaque coating for minimizing the light output from selected areas of an incandescent lamp, particularly a halogen lamp. It has been discovered that a paste comprising a mixture of sodium silicate and manganese dioxide, when thinned with water to a desired consistency, then applied to the external surface of a halogen lamp bulb and properly dried, forms a tightly adhering, opaque coating of dark gray color which resists flaking and blistering at operational temperatures of the halogen lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: Rollin G. Brown
  • Patent number: 4389160
    Abstract: In a single stage, single suction, high speed centrifugal pump utilizing a closed Francis-vane impeller, operating noise is reduced by encasing a single-step helical gear drive arrangement in a common bearing housing with the impeller's shaft. The operating noise is further reduced by forming the driven helical gear directly on the impeller's shaft to improve dynamic balance, and by mounting a plurality of fins on the bearing housing of the pump to absorb some of the high frequency sound wave energy of the pump, and to translate a further portion of the high frequency sound wave energy into low frequency mechanical vibrations of the fins. Operating noise is further reduced by encasing the fins within a shroud and by providing a fan to blow ambient air by the fins to further disrupt the sound wave patterns emanating from the bearing housing. Operating noise is still further reduced by maintaining the impeller's shaft under tension whereby vibration of the shaft is reduced, as is the noise produced thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: Hasan F. Onal
  • Patent number: 4385257
    Abstract: The invention relates to a base for a cartridge lamp of the type having at least one filament mounted on filament support legs extending through a seal of the bulb. According to the invention, a plug member has terminals affixed thereto for mounting the filament support legs. The plug member is adapted for keyed insertion into an opening. The terminals extend beyond the plug surface to form tangs which act as clamping fingers. The tangs also serve for contacting the connecting leads after the plug member has been rotated into a locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 4378104
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to the construction of butterfly valves of the type used for controlling fluid flow and, more particularly, to a seal for use in sealing the periphery of the closure member of such valves. Further, the seal disclosed herein is loaded by the pressure of the fluid being handled, to enhance the tightness of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1983
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoram Ben-Ur
  • Patent number: 4367433
    Abstract: A tungsten filament lamp incorporates arc discharge electrodes for an arc discharge in a gas fill enclosed in the lamp envelope. The tungsten filament is utilized as a ballast resistance for the arc discharge. A method for mounting the filament and electrodes in an embodiment according to the invention is shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: Salvatore F. Cortorillo
  • Patent number: 4363085
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp is provided wherein one or more reflectors scan a collimated beam of light to generate a desired light beam pattern and project it to the road. Electrical and mechanical driver means are also provided to change the mode of operation of the scanning reflector to change the pattern of light and its location on the road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: Nickolas P. Demas
  • Patent number: 4360861
    Abstract: The invention relates to a socket for a baseless cartridge lamp, particularly a two-filament cartridge lamp or a cartridge halogen lamp with contacts at opposite ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: Edison International
    Inventor: James J. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 4356365
    Abstract: An air-operated switching device includes first and second spaced supports on which an armature is mounted. The armature includes a resilient blade fixedly mounted at a first end on the first support and for sliding movement with respect to the second support. A resilient contact finger extends from the slidably supported end of the armature and includes a free end having a contact thereon. A fixed contact is positioned in alignment with the contact of the finger. An air-operated actuator applies pressure to the blade causing it to flex with the one end of the blade moving slidably over the second support, thereby causing the finger contact to be moved into engagement with the fixed contact with a wiping motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: Hemming G. Siiberg
  • Patent number: 4353215
    Abstract: A fluidic turbine control system provided to interrelate and control first and second turbine operating conditions, has fluidic computing means operable to proportionally combine fluidic input signals which are representative of the differences, if any, between the actual and desired values of said first and second turbine operating conditions and provide therefrom first and second fluidic control signals for control of said first and second turbine operating conditions. In the preferred form the fluidic turbine control systems as applied to a Steam Turbine and extraction pressure to control turbine operation as a function of the extraction pressure and extraction pressure as a function of the turbine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventors: Lester M. Anderson, John D. Warnock
  • Patent number: 4335167
    Abstract: An improved brake fluid reservoir is disclosed. The reservoir is made from polymethylpentene and includes 10-20% by weight glass fibers as an opacifying agent. A translucent reservoir is obtained which has the highly desirable feature of visibility of the fluid level in the reservoir without providing a clear view of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1982
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kolditz
  • Patent number: 4307751
    Abstract: A valve having a plurality of movable, coaxially arranged annular plates is characterized by the use of fiber reinforced plate members having a thickness of greater than 0.2 inches and, in a preferred embodiment, a thickness to width ratio in excess of 0.5. A valve in accordance with the present invention is also characterized by the ratio of the number of biasing springs associated with each plate to the mean diameter of the plate being greater than 1.2 per inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Mayer, John N. Story
  • Patent number: 4308000
    Abstract: A discharge outlet coupling and guiderail assembly for a submersible pump has at least two spaced guiderails to which the submersible pump is slidably connected by means of a rail mounting bracket so that the submersible pump is movable up and down the guiderails parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof to permit the discharge outlet of the pump disposed remote from the guiderail mounting brackets to be oriented and aligned for engagement and disengagement with the flanged inlet end of a discharge elbow in the discharge line of the associated fluid pumping system to which the submersible pump must be operatively connected. Orientation of the pump, the respective spaced guiderails, and the discharge elbow is controlled by means of a common base plate to which the respective guiderails and the discharge elbow are connected in predetermined spaced relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Edison International, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Oakes