Patents by Inventor Francis M. Howe

Francis M. Howe 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: 4103291
    Abstract: A leak sensor powered directly by the circuit voltage being controlled by the vacuum circuit interrupter and continuously operating while the interrupter is in service. An indicating system is connected to the leak sensor, or sensors, and provides an indication of failure and corrective action to be taken in single phase or multi-phase circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Inventors: Francis M. Howe, Simon Yin
  • Patent number: 4095676
    Abstract: A vacuum breaker operator in which a breaker closing drive spring is charged by a charging mechanism including a drive lever mounted on a drive shaft coupled to compress the spring as the lever is rotated. A drive gear is rotatively mounted on the drive shaft. Coupling means couple the drive gear to rotate the drive shaft to rotate the lever and charge the spring during a charging operation and decouple the driven gear during a spring discharging operation. A drive linkage is coupled to said spring and serves to close the breaker when the spring is discharged. An opening spring is coupled to said drive lever linkage and adapted to be charged by the drive spring and provides the energy for opening the breaker. A reciprocating pawl drives the driven gear from a power source and means are provided for disengaging the pawl when the drive spring is charged allowing the pawl to engage the gear when the spring is discharged whereby the gear can be rotated to recharge the drive spring after a discharging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1978
    Assignee: Howe-Yin Research Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Francis M. Howe, Simon Yin