Patents by Inventor Norman R. Long

Norman R. Long 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: 7414191
    Abstract: An electrical-component assembly that includes a first housing portion that includes a wall. The wall includes a slot. At least a portion of the slot includes threads. An electrical component includes a body and a threaded protrusion. The threaded protrusion defines a longitudinal axis and is translational along a path that includes a portion that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to engage with the threaded portion of the slot such that the body inhibits rotation of the electrical component relative to the first housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Norman R. Long
  • Patent number: 6800975
    Abstract: An electric motor having a shaft access cover. The electric motor includes a housing that defines an aperture, a stator fixed relative to the housing, a shaft rotatable relative to the housing so the aperture provides access to an end portion of the shaft, and a rotor connected to the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the stator. The end portion of the shaft has a surface adapted for engagement by a tool so a load drivingly connected to the electric motor can be manipulated with respect to the electric motor. The shaft access cover is attachable to the housing for pivotable movement between an unlocked position and a locked position where the shaft access cover substantially covers the aperture. The pivotable movement between the locked and the unlocked positions includes less 360 degrees of pivotable movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Norman R. Long
  • Patent number: 6766573
    Abstract: An electric motor having an integrally formed bonding apparatus that allows an installer to quickly and efficiently bond the electric motor to a bonding grid of a bonding area. A fastener having a head is inserted into an aperture of the housing of the electric motor such that a bonding conductor is captured between the housing and the head. The bonding conductor is electrically coupled to the housing via direct contact between the bonding conductor and the housing and/or via indirect contact through the fastener. An integrally formed surface of the housing prevents the bonding conductor from moving out from under the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Norman R. Long, Chih M. Lin, William J. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20040119352
    Abstract: An electric motor having a shaft access cover. The electric motor includes a housing that defines an aperture, a stator fixed relative to the housing, a shaft rotatable relative to the housing so the aperture provides access to an end portion of the shaft, and a rotor connected to the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the stator. The end portion of the shaft has a surface adapted for engagement by a tool so a load drivingly connected to the electric motor can be manipulated with respect to the electric motor. The shaft access cover is attachable to the housing for pivotable movement between an unlocked position and a locked position where the shaft access cover substantially covers the aperture. The pivotable movement between the locked and unlocked positions includes less 360 degrees of pivotable movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Norman R. Long
  • Publication number: 20030131466
    Abstract: An electric motor having an integrally formed bonding apparatus that allows an installer to quickly and efficiently bond the electric motor to a bonding grid of a bonding area. A fastener having a head is inserted into an aperture of the housing of the electric motor such that a bonding conductor is captured between the housing and the head. The bonding conductor is electrically coupled to the housing via direct contact between the bonding conductor and the housing and/or via indirect contact through the fastener. An integrally formed surface of the housing prevents the bonding conductor from moving out from under the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Norman R. Long, Chih M. Lin, William J. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6247702
    Abstract: A bearing shaft seal assembly for an electric motor positioned within an end frame of the motor in order to inhibit the passage of external contaminants axially along a shaft extending out of an end frame into the interior of the motor. The seal assembly including a first seal member, a second seal member and a third seal member; wherein the first seal member is a slinger washer mounted on the shaft so as to be rotatable with the shaft and which is positioned within an inner recess in the end frame, the second seal member is a concaved expansion plug positioned around the shaft and positioned within an outer recess in the end frame which is thereafter caused to be flattened so as to be in fixed relation with respect to the shaft, and the third seal member is a slinger washer mounted on the shaft so as to be rotatable with the shaft and which is positioned adjacent to the expansion plug. The seal assembly further defining a labyrinthine path designed to impede the inflow of external contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Norman R. Long, Dennis L. Bush
  • Patent number: 6057615
    Abstract: A bracket for attaching a capacitor with an engagement portion to a motor having therein a keyhole with a rectangular portion and a circular portion. The bracket includes a first semicylindrical member having a first downwardly extending portion and a first hinge portion and a second semicylindrical member having a second downwardly extending portion and a second hinge portion. The first hinge portion and second hinge portion are engageable to form a hinge with an axis about which the semicylindrical members are pivotable to open and closed positions. When in the open position, the semicylindrical members permit the capacitor to be removed from the bracket. When in the closed position, the semicylindrical members define a cylinder having an axis and including a capacitor engagement portion for engaging the capacitor, thereby retaining the capacitor in the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Norman R. Long
  • Patent number: 6045268
    Abstract: A bearing lock clip for an electric motor is provided. A bearing lock clip is secured to an end frame of a motor and locks or unlocks a motor bearing in place in the end frame. The bearing lock clip is mounted for movement between a locked and an unlocked position. The bearing lock clip includes a tab which abuts an outside surface of the end frame. An attachment is provided to secure the lock clip to the end frame. As the attachment is rotated, the lock clip rotates until the tab abuts the outside surface of the end frame and, either, a part of the lock clip covers a part of the bearing, or no part of the lock clip covers any part of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Norman R. Long, Frank E. Staigl, III
  • Patent number: 5220226
    Abstract: An electric motor comprising a main frame having an en and an interior, a stator supported within the main frame, an end frame supported within the main frame and spaced from the end of the main frame so as to divide the interior of the main frame into a motor compartment containing the stator and an equipment compartment between the end frame and the end of the main frame, a bearing supported by the end frame, a rotor shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, a rotor located radially inwardly of the stator and mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, a modularized apparatus platform which is located within the equipment compartment, and which includes a generally cup-shaped portion that opens in the direction away from the end frame and that has an inner surface defining a control chamber, an electrical component supported by the platform and located within the control chamber, and a cap which is fixed to the apparatus platform and which closes the control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Norman R. Long, James L. King
  • Patent number: 5076762
    Abstract: An adaptor assembly for a motor permits mounting to a pump to form a sump pump unit. A motor main frame has its end by end bearing frames. The adaptor assembly includes top and bottom plate adaptors formed of cast plastic or aluminum, and are separately inventoried for connection to a line of motors built for other applications as well as sump pumps. The bottom adaptor plate is secured to the end frame, with the motor shaft projecting concentrically of a hub extending from the plate. The hub telescopes over a tubular pedestal of the pump and has a collapsing collar for mounting the motor to the pump with the pump shaft and motor shaft coupled by a mating slot and projection. The plate is secured to the motor by suitable edge securement clips or by self tapping screws passing through a plate opening and threaded into a hole in the end frame. A top adaptor unit has a plate similarly secured to the top end of said motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Lykes, Norman R. Long