Patents by Inventor Rodney C. Farmer

Rodney C. Farmer 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).

  • Suction pads for supporting loads
    Patent number: 4316628
    Abstract: A suction pad for adhering a load to a surface and comprising a disc having an extensible annular seal on one face and a radial vacuum inducer mounted on the other. The inducer is capable of evacuating the interior region bounded by the seal to anchor the disc to the surface. There are gas thrusters disposed outside the seal for opposing the vacuum by extending the seal when it is required to reduce adhesion to allow lateral displacement of the suction pad without breaking the annular seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1982
    Assignee: Nuclear Power Company Limited
    Inventors: Rodney C. Farmer, Hugh A. Goldsmith, Michael J. Proudlove