Patents by Inventor Rodolfo Palma

Rodolfo Palma 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).

  • Publication number: 20020144673
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator is provided for producing more than one fuel pressure. The fuel pressure regulator includes a pressure plate that restricts fuel flow between an input line and an output line. A spring is provided for applying a force to the pressure plate. A coil and armature are also provided. The coil attracts the armature to a casing or head pole, thus applying more force to the pressure plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodolfo Palma
  • Patent number: 6455971
    Abstract: Non-random windings are employed to reduce the proximity effect in electrical machines, including rotating machines such as various types of motors. Thus, with respect to electrical machinery of the type wherein multi-strand electrical wiring is received within a slot relative to a surface associated with the transmission of magnetic flux, a method of dressing the wiring within the slot according to the invention includes the step of winding the strands of each turn in one or more layers, each layer being substantially parallel to the surface associated with the transmission of magnetic flux. The winding may be a multi layer winding, in which case the windings associated with each layer are preferably separated by an insulating layer. The invention is applicable to various types of machines and motors, including AC, brushless DC and variable reluctance (VR) types. The conductors may be of a circular cross section or other geometry, such as flattened tapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Aesop, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Palma, Sr., John C. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6273395
    Abstract: A valve assembly 10 for use in a compressor. Valve assembly 10 includes a generally cylindrical stator member or assembly 12 and an inner valve or member 14 which is slidably engaged within stator assembly 12. Stator assembly 12 includes a conventional electrically operated coil 20 which is coupled to a conventional controller 98. Controller 98 selectively connects and disconnects coil 20 to and from a conventional battery 96, thereby allowing coil 20 to selectively receive electrical power. When coil 20 receives electrical power, a movable member 68 within member 14 is actuated, thereby creating a communication passage between a relatively high pressure chamber 84 and a relatively low pressure chamber 88.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Tech.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Palma, Atul Natverial Sheth, Andre D. Jess
  • Patent number: 6084401
    Abstract: A rotational position sensor assembly (10) includes a wheel (20) having a ferromagnetic hub portion (22) and a resistor support member (24) on which an array of magneto resistor elements (28) are mounted. Surrounding the wheel (20) and rotatable relative to it is a magnetic return element (12) on which are mounted permanent magnets (18). The magnetic field created is tangential to the particular MR element(s) (28) aligned with this field, causing a change in resistance that indicates the relative rotational position of the magnetic return element (12) relative to the wheel (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Globa Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Palma, David Lee Striker
  • Patent number: 5772180
    Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated valve for an automotive vehicle includes a pole assembly having a coil situated therein and a combination valve element and armature, including a tubular axially moveable valve spool for controlling the flow through at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port. A magnetic head having a first end attached to an end of the valve spool and a second end nested within a relieved area provided in the pole assembly functions to move the tubular valve spool in response to magnetic flux induced by the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Palma, Michael Benjamin Levin
  • Patent number: 5489845
    Abstract: A method and system for determining absolute rotor position with a Variable Reluctance (VR) motor. An inductance sensor is compatible with the VR motor and is adapted to generate a plurality of variable inductance values corresponding to the position of the rotor. The inductance values may be plotted during calibration as phase-separated pseudo-sinusoidal waveforms with a resultant inductance/position profile having near-linear regions with determinable slopes and offsets. Excitation electronics converts variable inductance values to corresponding digital values which are suitable for computer processing. A micro computer is adapted to determine which of the digital values is a mid-value and to convert the mid-value to high resolution motor rotor angular units in accordance with the calibration-determined slopes and offsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Charles F. Weber, Kah S. Oo, Rodolfo Palma
  • Patent number: 5344443
    Abstract: A heart pump having a housing with a central longitudinal axis, inlet means and an outlet means is disclosed. A stationary shaft extends axially within the housing and the means are provided for supporting the shaft centrally located within the housing. A stator assembly is mounted about the stationary shaft and a shell assembly is rotatable about the stator assembly and shaft. The shell assembly is located between the housing and stator assembly and includes a spiral ridge located on the outerside thereof for pumping blood through the housing between the housing and shell assembly as the shell assembly rotates. Rotor laminations are located on an innerside of the shell assembly. The rotor laminations have a plurality of axially extending permanent magnets therebetween which are circumferentially spaced about the stationary shaft. A damper winding means is mounted within the rotor laminations. Blood may flow between the shell assembly and housing without exposure to magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: REM Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Palma, William H. Miller
  • Patent number: 5317227
    Abstract: A rotor for a dynamoelectric machine, without windings and rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, having an axially extending rotatable body and a toroidal magnet coaxially mounted on the body is constructed to provide magnetic exitation for the rotor. The rotatable body contains a first set of circumferentially spaced axially extending salient poles with circumferentially spaced recesses therebetween and a second set of similar poles at an opposite axial location. The toroidal magnet is coaxially mounted on the body between the first and second set of salient poles. A second toroidal magnet may also be mounted on the body and a magnetic spacer placed in between both toroidal magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: REM Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Palma, William H. Miller
  • Patent number: 5196749
    Abstract: A support and positioning structure for a stator assembly of an inductor type dynamoelectric machine is disclosed. The stator assembly includes a plurality of stationary C-shaped armature elements circumferentially located about a central longitudinal axis and supported by end portions. The C-shaped armature elements include armature windings on a base portion extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and legs extending from each end in a radially inward direction. The support structure includes a nonmagnetic ring shaped member sized to be insertable over the bases of the circumferentially spaced C-shaped armature elements. The bases are in contact with an inner portion of the ring shaped member to thereby position the C-shaped armature elements. The ring shaped member may provide improved cooling effects if made of a heat conductive material and may allow air gap tolerances within the stator assembly to be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: REM Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Palma, John J. Cestra
  • Patent number: 5196752
    Abstract: A system for supporting conductors in a dynamoelectric machine having a stator assembly with a plurality of stationary armature elements spaced about a circumference positioned radially about a central longitudinal axis, where each armature element includes an armature winding on a base portion and a leg extending from each of the base portions in a radially inward direction, includes a spacer for supporting one or more electrical conductors and for insulating the one or more conductors for an armature element. The spacer is mountable on the armature element and may comprise one or more grooves for supporting one or more interconnecting bars which are capable of connecting the armature windings of two or more armature elements. The spacers may be fastened to the stator assembly and allow the stator assembly to be equipped with conductors which may be oriented in a pattern which minimizes conductor length and minimizes energy losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: REM Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodolfo Palma