Patents by Inventor Ronald W. Richardson

Ronald W. Richardson 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).

  • Apparatus and method for charging canisters with a high pressure gas
    Patent number: 6279294
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging a closed metallic canister with a gas under pressure comprising means for forming a gas filling opening in the canister, and dispensing means for sequentially injecting a high pressure gas through the gas filling opening to charge the canister, and depositing and fusing a fusible body in the gas filling opening, while continuing to inject gas into the canister and utilize the force of the gas to urge the dispensing means into sealing engagement with the canister being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: RWC, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Richardson, Jr., James Harrington
  • Apparatus for charging canisters with a high pressure gas
    Patent number: 6212854
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging a metallic canister having a filler opening therein with a gas under pressure and then sealing the opening to provide a closed, pressurized canister including means having a guide passageway therethrough, engageable with the canister in sealing engagement with the guide passageway communicating with the filler opening of the canister, means for conveying a gas under pressure to the guide passageway of the sealing means when the sealing means is disposed in sealing engagement with the canister, rotary means for dispensing a welding ball for delivery through the sealing means to be deposited on the canister across the filler opening therein and means for fusing the welding ball when positioned on the canister to close the filler opening in the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: RWC, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Tobin, Ronald W. Richardson, Jr., James R. Harrington, Douglas M. Leonard
  • Apparatus and method for charging canisters with a high pressure gas
    Patent number: 6041573
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging a closed metallic canister with a gas under pressure comprising means for forming a gas filling opening in the canister, and dispensing means for sequentially injecting a high pressure gas through the gas filling opening to charge the canister, and depositing and fusing a fusible body in the gas filling opening, while continuing to inject gas into the canister and utilize the force of the gas to urge the dispensing means into sealing engagement with the canister being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: RWC, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Richardson, Jr., James Harrington
  • Apparatus for charging canisters with a high pressure gas
    Patent number: 5829223
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging a metallic canister having a filler opening therein with a gas under pressure and then sealing the opening to provide a closed, pressurized canister including means having a guide passageway therethrough, engageable with the canister in sealing engagement with the guide passageway communicating with the filler opening of the canister, means for conveying a gas under pressure to the guide passageway of the sealing means when the sealing means is disposed in sealing engagement with the canister, rotary means for dispensing a welding ball for delivery through the sealing means to be deposited on the canister across the filler opening therein and means for fusing the welding ball when positioned on the canister to close the filler opening in the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: RWC, Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian P. Tobin, Ronald W. Richardson, Jr., James R. Harrington, Douglas M. Leonard
  • Apparatus and method for charging canisters with a high pressure gas
    Patent number: 5760360
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging a closed metallic canister with a gas under pressure comprising means for forming a gas filling opening in the canister, and dispensing means for sequentially injecting a high pressure gas through the gas filling opening to charge the canister, and depositing and fusing a fusible body in the gas filling opening, while continuing to inject gas into the canister and utilize the force of the gas to urge the dispensing means into sealing engagement with the canister being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: RWC Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald W. Richardson, Jr., James Harrington
  • Methods and apparatus for supplying gas under high pressure to weldable air bag vessels with a gas passage formed therein, and like products, and then weld-sealing the passage
    Patent number: 5352860
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying an inert gas under extreme pressure to a weldable air bag canister having a gas-charging opening in one end wall, and weld sealing the opening. The canister, and a composite welding head and weld ball supplying assembly, having a lower nose with a seal surrounding a ball dispensing opening therein, are relatively moved axially to seal off the opening in the canister end wall. Then, prior to pressurizing the assembly, an individual ball is presupplied through a passageway seal system to a ball delivery member inboard of the seals which are provided in the welding head and weld ball supplying assembly. Thereafter, the composite assembly is charged with gas under a heavy pressure measured in thousands of pounds per square inch, and a raiseable and lowerable welding electrode, carried by the assembly axially in alignment with the ball receiving chamber and ball dispensing opening, delivers welding current to melt collapse the ball to seal the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: RWC, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald W. Richardson
  • Methods and apparatus for supplying gas under high pressure to weldable air bag vessels with a gas passage formed therein, and like products, and then weld-sealing the passage
    Patent number: 5196669
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying an inert gas under extreme pressure to a weldable air bag canister having a gas-charging opening in one end wall, and weld sealing the opening. The canister, and a composite welding head and weld ball supplying assembly, having a lower nose with a seal surrounding a ball dispensing opening therein, are relatively moved axially to seal off the opening in the canister end wall. Then, prior to pressurizing the assembly, an individual ball is presupplied through a passageway seal system to a ball delivery member inboard of the seals which are provided in the welding head and weld ball supplying assembly. Thereafter, the composite assembly is charged with gas under a heavy pressure measured in thousands of pounds per square inch, and a raiseable and lowerable welding electrode, carried by the assembly axially in alignment with the ball receiving chamber and ball dispensing opening, delivers welding current to melt collapse the ball to seal the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: RWC, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald W. Richardson