Patents Assigned to Kearney-National Inc.
  • Patent number: 5491407
    Abstract: A wheel bearing speed sensor includes an annular rotor mounted to a vehicle axle spindle, having a plurality of teeth extending radially outwardly, which is received within a stationary stator assembly. The stator assembly includes an annular stator having a corresponding plurality of teeth extending from one end and positioned proximate to the rotor teeth. A bobbin member is slidably received within the stator just above the radially aligned rotor and stator teeth and is restricted from movement toward the teeth. A flexible magnetic strip is magnetically adhered to the inner surface of the stator adjacent the bobbin member, wherein the magnetic strip restricts movement of the bobbin member axially away from the radially aligned teeth. A variable reluctance magnetic flux path is established simultaneously between all of the rotor and stator teeth as the spindle rotates, thereby inducing a corresponding variable voltage in the bobbin windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Maxson, Jerry D. Heiniger, James C. Rustman
  • Patent number: 5448217
    Abstract: An ignition coil is disclosed that includes a primary coil, a secondary coil and a core about which the primary and secondary coil are disposed. The secondary coil has in inner diameter greater than the diameter of the primary coil. The primary coil is disposed on the core and the secondary coil is disposed about the primary coil. The secondary coil includes a spiral-back pyramid winding configuration which results in a desired distributed capacitance for the secondary windings thereby providing desired electrical characteristics for a resonant circuit. The winding layers of the secondary coil decrease in the number of turns as the coil is wound to achieve a desired distributed capacitance of the coil. A spiral-back winding technique decreases adjacent winding layer voltages so that the inter-layer insulation requirements are reduced to a lower value thereby decreasing the insulation thickness of the secondary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Kearney National, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Luetzow
  • Patent number: 5444369
    Abstract: A rotary shaft position sensor includes a stator and a rotor and produces a linear output signal in accordance with the rotational position of a shaft coupled to the rotor. The rotor rotates about an axis of rotation. The stator includes stationary pole pieces having stationary pole faces situated perpendicular to the axis of rotation and spaced a predetermined distance apart to define an air gap therebetween. A Hall effect device is situated-in the air gap. The Hall device produces an output signal corresponding to the level of magnetic flux in the air gap. One or more magnets are attached to the rotating pole piece. The magnetic poles of the magnets are situated parallel with and spaced a predetermined distance from the stationary pole faces. Lines of magnetic flux originating from the magnets are situated in a direction perpendicular to the stationary pole face. The rotating pole piece rotates in close proximity to the stationary pole pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Luetzow
  • Patent number: 5341265
    Abstract: A system for detecting a high impedance fault in a phase conductor having a potential device connected to the phase conductor, the system including a signal injection device having an input from the potential device which detects a reduction in voltage at the phase conductor and outputs a first signal in response to detecting a reduction in voltage at the phase conductor and a signal receiver which receives the first signal and provides a second signal to an interruption device in response to having received the first signal to cause the interruption device to open the circuit to the phase conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Kearney National, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur C. Westrom, A. P. Meliopoulos, George J. Cokkinides
  • Patent number: 5321355
    Abstract: A low cost Hall effect position sensor is disclosed which includes a Hall effect integrated circuit disposed in close proximity to a metallic target device. The Hall device is mounted in a slotted flux dispersion pole piece. The slotted magnetic flux dispersion pole piece is designed to disperse a highly concentrated magnetic flux field from a magnet, typically an Alnico or rare earth magnet, into a low intensity magnetic flux field which is compatible with the Hall effect device as well as constant and evenly dispersed across the face of the slotted pole piece. The slotted pole piece is designed so that the magnetic flux differential in an air gap between the dispersion pole piece and a ferrous target is increased when compared to the magnetic flux differential of a non-recessed dispersion pole piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Kearney National Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Luetzow
  • Patent number: 5264792
    Abstract: A low cost Hall effect position sensor is disclosed which includes a Hall effect integrated circuit disposed in close proximity to a metallic target device. The Hall device is mounted on a flanged flux dispersion pole piece. The opposite end of the pole piece is attached to a rare earth or Alnico magnet. The flanged magnetic flux dispersion pole piece is designed to disperse a highly concentrated magnetic flux field from a magnet, typically an Alnico or rare earth magnet, into a low intensity magnetic flux field which is compatible with the Hall effect device as well as constant and evenly dispersed across the face of the flanged pole piece. The area of the dispersion flange face is designed so measured magnetic field in an air gap between the dispersion pole piece and a ferrous target is increased by a factor of 3 when compared to an open circuit field intensity field measurement at the surface of the dispersion pole piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Luetzow, Edwin J. Luetzow
  • Patent number: 5115194
    Abstract: A low cost Hall effect position sensor is disclosed which includes a Hall effect integrated circuit disposed in close proximity to a metallic target device. The Hall device is mounted on a flanged flux dispersion pole piece. The opposite end of the pole piece is attached to a rare earth or Alnico magnet. The flanged magnetic flux dispersion pole piece is designed to disperse a highly concentrated magnetic flux field from a magnet, typically an Alnico or rare earth magnet, into a low intensity magnetic flux field which is compatible with the Hall effect device as well as constant and evenly dispersed across the face of the flanged pole piece. The area of the dispersion flange face is designed so measured magnetic field in an air gap between the dispersion pole piece and a ferrous target is increased by a factor of 3 when compared to an open circuit field intensity field measurement at the surface of the dispersion pole piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Kearney-National Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Luetzow, Edwin J. Luetzow
  • Patent number: 4959629
    Abstract: A high torque rotary solenoid is disclosed employing attracting and repelling forces of permanent magnets to induce rotary motion is disclosed. Four arrays of magnets are located on a stator and rotor and are arranged along the axis of rotation of a shaft. Two magnet arrays are located on the stator, and two magnet arrays are located on the rotor. Each of the magnet arrays on the stator is arranged to come in close proximity to one of the magnet arrays on the rotor when the rotary shaft is positioned to the clockwise or counterclockwise rotary motion limits. The rotary solenoid has two rotational positions, each position corresponding to the mechanical limits of rotational movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Luetzow
  • Patent number: 4806898
    Abstract: A polyphase interrupter includes an electric fuse in series with each phase, a phase grounding conductor electrically connected with each phase and movably mounted adjacent and electrically connected with a terminal of each fuse, biasing means arranged to impart individual grounding movement to each phase grounding conductor, latch means normally in engagement with each phase grounding conductor for preventing grounding movement thereof, actuating means associated with each of said fuses and movable into releasing engagement with the associated latch means in response to current interrupting operation of the associated fuse, and coupling means interconnecting all of said latch means for imparting simultaneous releasing movement thereby to effect grounding and interruption of all phases in response to interruption in one phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Osborne
  • Patent number: 4774488
    Abstract: An electric cutout of the link break type includes a fuse holder comprising a hollow fuse tube of insulating material, a lower tube casting secured to one end of the fuse tube, a conducting hinge element pivotally mounted on one side of said lower tube casting and having a pair of coaxial trunnions seated in a pair of jaw contacts constituting one terminal of the cutout, an ejector element pivotally mounted on the conducting hinge element biased away from the fuse tube and having its swing end normally spaced from one end of the fuse tube and substantially normal to the axis of the fuse tube together with a ramp portion angularly disposed to the axis of the fuse tube and to the swing end portion thereof and integral therewith, a fuse link disposed within the fuse tube and having an extension secured to the conducting hinge element and in engagement with the swing end of the ejector element so as to hold the conducting hinge element and the ejector in their normal positions, a manually operable fuse link break
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Field
  • Patent number: 4734670
    Abstract: In a current limiting fuse, the combination of a plurality of metallic fuse strips and a packing of silica enveloping said strips, said strips being made of cadmium alloyed with a grain size stabilizing minor amount of a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc and silver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Kearney, National, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur C. Westrom, Billy R. Livesay, W. Ralph Crooks
  • Patent number: 4713500
    Abstract: An electric bypass switch for connecting and disconnecting an electric apparatus such as a voltage regulator with respect to a power system includes a pair of spaced insulators on each of which a pair of conductive terminals are mounted, one pair of terminals being adapted for connection to the apparatus and the other pair of terminals being adapted for connection with the infeed and outfeed conductors of an electric power line respectively, a pair of hinge contacts hingedly mounted respectively on one pair of the conductive terminals, a pair of jaw contacts mounted respectively on the other pair of conductive terminals, a unitary switch blade having a pair of concentric conductors which are separated by mechanically sturdy insulating material and arranged with the hinge ends thereof connected respectively with the hinge contacts and the swing ends of the switch blade conductors being engageable and disengageable with the jaw contacts respectively, a bypass conductor electrically connected with and pivotally
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Osborne
  • Patent number: 4707574
    Abstract: An electric disconnect switch having fixed and movable contacts includes a latch mounted for limited oscillating and sliding movement on the movable contact and operable by a manual operating member, a ramp fixedly mounted on the fixed contact and having a latching surface engageable by the latch, a biasing device arranged to bias the latch in a direction to maintain the latch in engagement with the latching surface, together with a low friction device mounted on the movable contact and engageable with a part of the latch during a switch closing operation to impart closing movement to the movable contact in response to closing movement of the operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Smith
  • Patent number: 4681990
    Abstract: An electric switch of the by-pass type having a pair of main fixed contacts insulated from each other which cooperates with a pair of main movable contacts which are insulated from each other is provided with a by-pass switch for electrically connecting and disconnecting the main fixed contacts on which a latch is movably mounted and having a part engageable with a fixed latch engaging element so as positively to lock the by-pass switch in closed position, the latch being operated by an actuator mounted on and movable with the main movable contacts for imparting latching movement to the latch in coordination with opening of the main movable contacts. Conversely the actuator unlatches the latch in coordination with closing movement of the main movable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Osborne
  • Patent number: 4536822
    Abstract: An electric circuit interrupter and associated mounting comprises an elongated support element of insulating material mounted for swinging movement about a fixed pivot and having a pair of movable contacts mounted thereon and engageable with fixedly mounted contacts, a circuit interrupter mounted on said elongated support element and having a pair of terminals respectively connected with the movable contacts, and an electric bus of conducting material connected with one of the movable contacts and having a plurality of points of connection for cooperating with one terminal of the circuit interrupter whereby circuit interrupters of different ratings and physical dimensions may be mounted on said elongated support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Osborne
  • Patent number: 4470328
    Abstract: A tool for use in conjunction with energized high voltage electric circuits and which includes a housing structure having a pair of angularly related intersecting passages, a pair of bevelled pinions rotatably mounted respectively in said passages and arranged to cooperate with each other, a stem portion of the driven one of said pinions being connected with a coupling element, an elongated tubular element formed of insulating material and having one end thereof secured to the housing structure in coaxial relation to the one of said passages in which a driving pinion is mounted, and an elongated tubular drive shaft rotatably mounted within said elongated tubular element and having its inner end secured to the stem of the driving one of said pinions and having its outer end projecting outwardly of the outer end of said tubular element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Kearney-National Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred R. Landis
  • Patent number: 4419549
    Abstract: For initiating operating movement to an electric switch disposed in a housing having an access door, a movable element is interconnected with the switch and operating movement is imparted thereto by motivating means, and interlocking means is mounted on the housing and arranged to prevent switch closing movement of the motivating means so long as the access door of the housing is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Osborne
  • Patent number: 4413246
    Abstract: For interrupting all values of electric current in a high voltage circuit which cause operation of a fuse within one hour, a plurality of parallel connected helically configured fusible elements formed of cadmium are embedded within quartz sand in granular form disposed within a housing structure which includes a tubular member of insulating material to the ends of which terminal caps are secured and connected to the ends of the fusible elements respectively so that currents of a high order of magnitude are interrupted in a fraction of a half cycle in a current limiting fashion and so that currents of a low order of magnitude and which are slightly in excess of normal rated load current of the fuse cause the temperature of the fusible elements to rise to the melting point within a longer predetermined period of time and then to establish a gap sufficient to withstand the recovery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1983
    Assignee: Kearney-National Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur C. Westrom, Billy R. Livesay, James W. Larsen
  • Patent number: 4412202
    Abstract: An electric circuit interrupter arranged to interrupt overload currents and having a pair of relatively movable normally closed disconnect contacts is associated with an electric circuit interrupter arranged to interrupt load currents and having a pair of relatively movable normally closed contacts forming a parallel circuit to the disconnect contacts only during opening of said disconnect contacts so as to prevent arcing at said disconnect contacts during opening thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Russell, Robert D. Ball
  • Patent number: 4374371
    Abstract: For interrupting all values of electric current in a high voltage circuit which cause operation of a fuse within one hour, a plurality of parallel connected helically configured fusible elements formed preferably of cadmium are embedded within quartz sand in granular form disposed within a housing structure which includes a tubular member of insulating material to the ends of which terminal caps are secured and connected to the ends of the fusible elements respectively so that currents of a high order of magnitude are interrupted in a fraction of a half cycle in a current limiting fashion and so that currents of a low order of magnitude and which are slightly in excess of normal rated load current of the fuse cause the temperature of the fusible elements to rise to approximately the melting point so that the fusible elements melt in random sequence following which arcs are established progressively by commutation action along a substantial portion of the length of each fusible element by direct arc contact, b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Kearney-National, Inc.
    Inventor: Vojislav Narancic