Patents Assigned to Grumman Flexible Corporation
  • Patent number: 4272015
    Abstract: A blower control system for the evaporator blowers employed in the climate conditioning system for a motor vehicle passenger compartment. Maximum blower efficiency for the various conditions of operation is attained by using blowers having two operating speeds, the proper operating speed in this invention being dictated by engine water temperature, outside temperature, passenger loading, and system return air temperature. The passenger load sensing circuit has a pressure switch associated with the suspension springs system of the vehicle for switching the blowers from low to high speed operation when load conditions so dictate. A zero speed controller is used to lock in a blower speed selected when loading or unloading passengers to avoid unwanted repetitive cycling of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1981
    Assignee: Grumman Flexible Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond E. Houser
  • Patent number: 4257158
    Abstract: A bus suspension mating fixture assembly having a bus body overhead support assembly and a bus suspension shuttle assembly. The bus body overhead assembly comprises an elongated framework having a first pair of laterally spaced upright side beams connected together adjacent their tops by a transverse beam and a second pair of laterally spaced upright side beams connected together adjacent their tops by a transverse beam, and a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal beams that have their opposite ends connected to the upright side beams adjacent their tops. A pair of laterally spaced longitudinal overhead support rails are supported from the top of the bus body overhead support assembly and the overhead support rail unit can be raised and lowered throughout a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Grumman Flexible Corporation
    Inventors: Max Casutt, George R. Heffner
  • Patent number: 4257150
    Abstract: Apparatus for assembling a wall module from a plurality of stretched sheets of metal laterally spaced apart by a skeletal frame with the interior of the wall module to be later filled with structural foamed plastic. The apparatus has a first and a second elongated sheet metal stretcher assembly, a pair of tower assemblies for supporting the first elongated sheet metal stretcher assembly vertically above the second elongated sheet metal stretcher assembly, and a plurality of jack screw assemblies for moving the first elongated sheet metal stretcher assembly vertically toward or away from the second elongated sheet metal stretcher assembly. Both of the elongated sheet metal stretcher assemblies have sheet metal clamping jaws longitudinally fixedly mounted adjacent one of their ends and longitudinally movable sheet metal clamping jaws mounted adjacent their other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Grumman Flexible Corporation
    Inventors: George R. Heffner, Max Casutt
  • Patent number: 4238128
    Abstract: A combination load-leveling and kneeling air suspension system for a vehicle having a sprung member and an unsprung member. The system has a pair of laterally spaced air springs, a pressurized air reservoir with a first tubing line connecting the pressurized air reservoir to the first laterally spaced air spring and a second tubing line connecting the pressurized air reservoir to the second laterally spaced air spring. The first tubing line and the second tubing line have a common tubing portion. A first valve member is located in the first tubing line but not in the common tubing portion. Likewise, a second valve member is located in the second tubing line but not in the common tubing line portion. A third tubing line is connected between the pair of laterally spaced air springs and an isolation valve is located in the third tubing line intermediate its ends. A fourth tubing line connects the isolation valve with the common tubing line portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Grumman Flexible Corporation
    Inventor: Laird W. McKee
  • Patent number: 4231556
    Abstract: Apparatus for holding hollow wall panels while they are filled with foamed plastic having a base, a lower platen, an upper platen, and a plurality of inflatable hoses. The base has a top pressure surface upon which the inflatable hoses are positioned. As fluid under pressure is released into the inflatable hoses, the upper surface of the hoses contact the bottom pressure surface of the lower platen to lift the lower platen upwardly. The hollow wall panels are supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller support brackets that extend downwardly from the opposite sides of the upper platen. As the inflatable hoses are pressurized, the upward travel of the lower platen will cause its top pressure surface to contact the bottom of the hollow wall panels and hold them in rigid engagement against the bottom pressure surface of the upper platen. When the hollow wall panel is thus positioned, it is filled with foamed plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Assignee: Grumman Flexible Corporation
    Inventors: George R. Heffner, Max Casutt
  • Patent number: 4206934
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension system with a control valve mechanism for regulating the air pressure within the vehicle's air springs that functions to increase the spring rate when the air spring is being compressed on curves and bumpy road surfaces. The vehicle suspension system would have an axle, a vehicle chassis, an air spring attached between the axle and the chassis, an air reservoir, and a control valve in an air line connecting the air spring and the air reservoir. The control valve has a housing with an air inlet port located in its top wall and an air exit port located in its bottom wall. A cylindrical plug member is mounted within the valve housing and it has a bore hole passing substantially diametrically through it so that when the position of the cylindrical plug within the housing is moved or adjusted the opposite ends of the bore hole can be aligned with both the air intake port and the air exhaust port at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Assignee: Grumman Flexible Corporation
    Inventor: Laird W. McKee