Patents by Inventor Bruce C. Ley

Bruce C. Ley has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9479104
    Abstract: A power circuit is configured with mostly passive electrical components to connect a phase shift capacitor to a phase shift winding of a PSC motor selectively. The power circuit includes a timing circuit, a switching circuit, and a triac having a first anode connected to the second capacitor and a second anode connected to electrical ground. The timing circuit has a plurality of passive electrical components and a single active comparator configured to generate a signal indicative of an expiration of a predetermined time period after application of a line voltage to the motor. The switching circuit has a plurality of passive electrical components and a single active switch, which generates a signal to operate the triac to electrically connect the second capacitor to the second winding during the predetermined time period and to disconnect electrically the second capacitor from the second winding in response to a signal generated by the timing circuit indicating the predetermined time period has expired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Robert K. Hollenbeck, Bruce C. Ley, Mark M. Lulling
  • Publication number: 20160308479
    Abstract: A power circuit is configured with mostly passive electrical components to connect a phase shift capacitor to a phase shift winding of a PSC motor selectively. The power circuit includes a timing circuit, a switching circuit, and a triac having a first anode connected to the second capacitor and a second anode connected to electrical ground. The timing circuit has a plurality of passive electrical components and a single active comparator configured to generate a signal indicative of an expiration of a predetermined time period after application of a line voltage to the motor. The switching circuit has a plurality of passive electrical components and a single active switch, which generates a signal to operate the triac to electrically connect the second capacitor to the second winding during the predetermined time period and to disconnect electrically the second capacitor from the second winding in response to a signal generated by the timing circuit indicating the predetermined time period has expired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Robert K. Hollenbeck, Bruce C. Ley, Mark M. Lulling
  • Patent number: 7518280
    Abstract: A method for selectively operating an electric motor in one of a first pole configuration and a second pole configuration is provided. The first pole configuration has a first phase winding structure, a second phase winding structure and a third phase winding structure. The method includes energizing each of the first phase winding structure, the second phase winding structure and the third phase winding structure to operate the electric motor in the first pole configuration. The first phase winding structure is reconfigured to form a first phase, a second phase and a third phase of the second pole configuration. The first phase winding structure is energized and each of the second phase winding structure and the third phase winding structure is de-energized to operate the electric motor in the second pole configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce C. Ley, Michael R. Barone
  • Patent number: 6445101
    Abstract: A motor drive system includes an electric motor including a rotor shaft, a first main winding and a second main winding. The first and second main windings are selectively energizable to operate the motor at first and second speeds, and at least one of the windings is a permanent split capacitor winding. A transmission is coupled to the rotor shaft, and the rotor shaft engages the transmission without employing a clutch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Bruce C. Ley
  • Publication number: 20010030482
    Abstract: A motor drive system includes an electric motor including a rotor shaft, a first main winding and a second main winding. The first and second main windings are selectively energizable to operate the motor at first and second speeds, and at least one of the windings is a permanent split capacitor winding. A transmission is coupled to the rotor shaft, and the rotor shaft engages the transmission without employing a clutch mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventor: Bruce C. Ley