Patents by Inventor Robert A. Rasmussen

Robert A. Rasmussen 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: 4809972
    Abstract: An exercise machine has multiple stations at each of which two or more exercises are performed in opposition to a selected amount of weight in a weight stack. A cable and pulley system connects the exercise apparatus at the exercise stations with the weight stack in such a manner that only one pull cable in the system is connected to the weight stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignees: R. A. Rasmussen, W. D. MacLean
    Inventors: Robert A. Rasmussen, Jeffrey B. Johnson, William D. MacLean, Arthur B. Ish III
  • Patent number: 4806915
    Abstract: A mechanically actuated sensor indicates the position of a piston within the cylinder of a piston and cylinder assembly. The sensor includes a cam that partially extends into the cylinder chamber for abutting contact with the piston, and a lever arm extending through the cylinder wall for transmitting movement of the cam to a signalling device mounted externally of the cylinder chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Progressive Assembly Machine Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4756523
    Abstract: An exercise rowing machine of the type having a seat carriage movable along a track unit as the exerciser manipulates pivoted rowing arms in performing a standard rowing exercise is provided with a brake assembly on the seat carriage having a brake pad which can be selectively moved into and out of frictional braking engagement with the track unit to lock the seat carriage so that alternative exercises can be performed on the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: M & R Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4755113
    Abstract: A compact sleeve pump is provided that is particularly adaptable to fluid dispensing systems having multiple pump groupings. The sleeve pump includes a generally cylindrical valving spool and generally cylindrical dispensing piston, shiftably received within opposite ends of a generally tubular pump sleeve. Sealing members shiftably carried between the valving spool and pump sleeve provide, in conjunction with the selective shifting of the valving spool within the pump sleeve, for the inflow and expulsion of fluid from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Progressive Assembly Machine Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4690310
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus is provided especially designed to minimize the amount of fluid retained in the apparatus during a pumping cycle. The apparatus includes a pair of concentrically aligned inner and outer tubular sleeves shiftable relative to each other for alignment of their respective inlet ports. A piston is received within the inner sleeve, and a nozzle member is axially aligned with and receivable in the inner sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Progressive Assembly Machine Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4690608
    Abstract: A trailer for transporting roll-off containers is disclosed wherein a special trailer is fabricated with longitudinally extending main rails and a plurality of inside rollers and outside rollers rotatively affixed to the main rails. The main rails terminate rearwardly in an angularly declined unloading ramp, which ramp terminates in spaced relation above the road surface. A plurality of six roll-off containers are stacked to form two similar nests of three containers each, with the lowermost container of each nest oriented in horizontal alignment. The two nests of containers are placed upon the trailer in longitudinal juxtaposition in a location wherein the bottom rails of the lowermost containers rest upon either the inside or outside rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Accurate Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4679979
    Abstract: A method for unloading a plurality of roll-off containers from a special trailer is disclosed. A plurality of six roll-off containers are stacked to form two similar nests of at least two containers each, with the lowermost container of each nest oriented in horizontal alignment and having its bottom rail resting upon the rollers of the trailer. The two nests of containers are placed upon the trailer in longitudinal juxtaposition for transportation purposes. Upon reaching the destination, the two nests of containers are unloaded by a single driver without requiring any external, additional equipment. During unloading, the trailer is backed and suddenly stopped in repeated stages to employ inertial forces to move the nests of containers relative to the trailer until the nests of containers travel the length of the trailer and drop upon the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Accurate Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4648533
    Abstract: An electronically controlled, pneumatically actuated pumping system is provided that is especially designed for the precision dispensing of liquids. The system includes a positively actuated inlet valve, and a small-diameter, long-stroke pumping piston that is physically stopped at each end of its stroke. The unique inlet valve and piston enable the system to repetitively dispense metered volumes of fluid at better than one tenth of one percent accuracy. A unique calibration mechanism and detachable dispensing head allow for the rapid disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly of the system. An alternative embodiment of the pumping system incorporates a plurality of dispensing nozzles controlled by a single inlet valve and pumping piston combination. The dispensing unit may be shiftably mounted on a vertically oriented stand, and may be automatically shifted upwardly as fluid is dispensed to minimize splashing and atomizing of the dispensed fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Progressive Assembly Machine Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4610377
    Abstract: An electronically controlled, pneumatically actuated pumping system is provided that is especially designed for the precision dispensing of liquids. The system includes a positively actuated inlet valve, and a small-diameter, long-stroke pumping piston that is physically stopped at each end of its stroke. The unique inlet valve and piston enable the system to repetitively dispense metered volumes of fluid at better than one tenth of one percent accuracy. A unique calibration mechanism and detachable dispensing head allow for the rapid disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly of the system. An alternative embodiment of the pumping system incorporates a plurality of dispensing nozzles controlled by a single inlet valve and pumping piston combination. The dispensing unit may be shiftably mounted on a vertically oriented stand, and may be automatically shifted upwardly as fluid is dispensed to minimize splashing and atomizing of the dispensed fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Progressive Assembly Machine Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4608669
    Abstract: An on-chip apparatus for generation of timing signals for a large scale integrated (LSI) chip or semiconductor memory array is disclosed. This apparatus may be used both during the production testing of the memory and during normal functional operation. In the testing environment it allows use of much less expensive peripheral test equipment, while also providing for much greater accuracy in determination of whether or not the memory array meets its timing specification. Use during normal functional operation (subsequent to use in the test environment) provides for a guarantee of defect free operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Walter S. Klara, Theodore W. Kwap, Victor Marcello, Robert A. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4599040
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting roll-off containers is disclosed wherein a special trailer is fabricated with longitudinally extending main rails and a plurality of inside rollers and outside rollers rotatively affixed to the main rails. A plurality of six roll-off containers are stacked to form two similar nests of three containers each, with the lowermost container of each nest oriented in horizontal alignment. The two nests of containers are placed upon the trailer in longitudinal juxtaposition in a location wherein the bottom rails of the lowermost containers rest upon either the inside or outside rollers. During unloading, the trailer is backed and suddenly stopped in stages to employ inertial forces to move the nests of containers relative to the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Accurate Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4550513
    Abstract: A router bit for use with earth-moving equipment such as tractor scrapers, bucket loaders and dozers, composed of two parts, one affixed permanently to the apparatus and the other, which comprises the cutting edge, separable from the former for ease of replacement when worn and ineffective, thus obviating the need for expensive and laborious replacement of the whole router bit assembly. The upper and lower parts are joined by interlocking fingers and secured further by flex pins. The lower part, by means of a bar-like extension affixed to and positioned generally diagonally across the length of either side thereof, is prevented from lateral movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Industrial Parts Depot
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4541627
    Abstract: An exercise rowing machine has a tubular center rail of generally rectangular shape secured to underlying frame members by carriage bolts that have their head slide-mounted in a T-slot formed on the underside of the rail. The rail is formed with side channel tracks for the rollers of the seat carriage. End plates on the rail serve as travel stops for the seat carriage and are mounted by screws passing into longitudinal grooves formed on the inside of the rail. A timer is housed in the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Inventors: W. Douglas MacLean, Robert A. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4509008
    Abstract: Disclosed is a design discipline, or approach, in the form of circuitry and a test method, or methodology which obviates the problems of the prior art and allows testing of each individual chip and interchip connections of a plurality of interconnected chips contained on or within a high density packaging structure. This testing is accomplished without the need for and utilization of test equipment having a precision probe and a high precision step and repeat mechanism. CPA is a method and circuit design discipline that, where followed, will result in a testable multichip package given that each logical component is testable and the design is synchronous in nature. The CPA discipline is able to accomplish this by making use of shift register latches on the chips or functional island periphery. These latches are used to indirectly observe and/or control the synchronous network, in many ways replicating the stuckfault test environment under which tests were generated at the lower subcomponent level of assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sumit DasGupta, Matthew C. Graf, Robert A. Rasmussen, Thomas W. Williams
  • Patent number: 4505298
    Abstract: A dispensing valve assembly for accurate volumetric dispensation of delicate fluids is disclosed, suitable for use with a fluid dispensing system. The valve has a poppet that is movable within a chamber. A bias spring or external operator urges the poppet towards the top of the chamber, so that a circumferential elastomeric seal engages with the chamber wall. Pressure of fluid to be dispensed entering the top of the chamber forces the poppet towards the bottom of the chamber, disengaging the seal from the chamber wall and allowing fluid to pass around the seal and then out of the chamber through an outlet opening at the bottom of the chamber. Downward travel of the poppet is stopped when the bottom of the poppet contacts the bottom of the chamber. Release of fluid pressure allows the poppet to be forced towards the top of the chamber once again, engaging the seal with a chamber wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignee: Progressive Assembly Machine Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4503386
    Abstract: Disclosed is a design discipline, or approach, in the form of circuitry and a test method, or methodology which obviates the problems of the prior art and allows testing of each individual chip and interchip connections of a plurality of interconnected chips contained on or within a high density packaging structure. This testing is accomplished without the need for and utilization of test equipment having a precision probe and a high precision step and repeat mechanism. CPA is a method and circuit design discipline that, where followed, will result in a testable multichip package given that each logical component is testable and the design is synchronous in nature. The CPA discipline is able to accomplish this by making use of shift register latches on the chips or functional island periphery. These latches are used to indirectly observe and/or control the synchronous network, in many ways replicating the stuckfault test environment under which tests were generated at the lower subcomponent level of assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sumit DasGupta, Matthew C. Graf, Robert A. Rasmussen, Thomas W. Williams
  • Patent number: 4485654
    Abstract: A threaded coupling chuck device for use with a female threaded tube, including a chuck body, adaptor means, probe means, seal means, and port means.The body has an axis of rotation and shaft means for rotation, centered about said axis. Adaptor means are mounted on the body and have a threaded portion for engagement with the threaded tube to form a threaded coupling upon rotation of the internal portion of said body in a first direction about said axis. Probe means are slideably mounted in contact with the adaptor means and are positioned to align the respective threaded portions of said adaptor and said tube.Seal means are included, and are positioned to prevent passage of fluid through the coupling. The seal includes a threaded annular portion of the adaptor means, which portion is adapted to expand into contact with the tube upon activation. The seal means includes piston means positioned to glide along the axis from a first position to a second position where the seal is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Air-Mo Hydraulics Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4485653
    Abstract: A threaded coupling chuck device for use with a male threaded tube, including a body, a shaft for rotation, a sleeve and adaptor, nose cone, seal means, port means and a valve.The body is centered about an axis and has a sleeve rotably mounted inside the body. This sleeve is driven by the shaft means which rotates the sleeve in a first direction for coupling with the tube and the other direction to uncouple.Fixedly mounted in the sleeve is an adaptor means which has a nose cone supported on it. The nose cone has a threaded portion for forming a coupling with the male threaded tube upon rotation of the shaft in the first direction. The nose cone may also have a tapered surface adjacent the threaded portion to guide the tube into coupling contact with the threads.Seal means are provided generally at all junctions, and particularly for preventing passage of fluid between the tube and the nose cone coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Air-Mo Hydraulics Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4455053
    Abstract: A low-cost track shoe for tracked vehicles is fabricated from sheet metal stock or scrap pieces according to three alternate shoe structure disclosed herein. The shoe structures of this invention include a plurality of linkage members welded between a bottom plate and a top plate in such a manner as to form unitary assemblies which can be interconnected by means of hinge joints to form any desired track length. The various shoe structures of this invention teach different arrangements of the linkage members and different linkage member structures for obtaining track shoes readily interchangeable with conventional track shoes manufactured by sandcasting methods of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Industrial Parts Depot
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4434642
    Abstract: A method for making replacement grouser bars particularly contoured to fit rock worn grouser shoes from blanks cut from inexpensive sheet metal. The blank has a straight lower edge and a curved upper edge such that the bar is thicker at the ends than in the middle. The straight lower edge is easily double beveled and the blank is reverse forged to obtain a finished grouser bar having a straight upper edge and a curved lower edge, the bar still being thicker at the ends than in the middle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: Industrial Parts Depot
    Inventor: Robert Rasmussen