Patents by Inventor Thomas H. McGaffigan

Thomas H. McGaffigan 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: 5128504
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for providing heat to a substrate in an alternating magnetic field using lossy heating particles. This invention in particular discloses an article which is a combination of a base material and lossy heating particles capable of producing the desired heat and capable of being self-regulating at a preselected Curie temperature when subjected to an alternating magnetic field. The article of this invention is adapted to be placed on a substrate in order to heat the substrate in an alternating magnetic field and is adapted to provide the removal of the particles from the substrate after the heating is completed. Preferred materials for the article of this invention are gel materials having a cone penetration of at least about 50(10.sup.-1 mm) and at least about 100% elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. McGaffigan, Ernest R. Fenton
  • Patent number: 5126521
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for providing heating in an alternating magnetic field using lossy heat producing magnetic particles. This invention disclosed a system comprising a combination of particles wherein the first particles are lossy heat producing particles, which have a preselected Curie temperature to provide self-regulating heating in the alternating magnetic field, and the second particles are nonlossy particles which have high permeability which are not heat producing particles but which maintain the coupling of the magnetic circuit and maintain the desired magnetic field focus and intensity through the area in which the first lossy heat producing particles are positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5098319
    Abstract: A relatively flat, rectangular multipin connector has a terminal end to each pin adapted to receive the stripped end of a wire to be soldered thereto. Both surfaces of the pin may be arcuate in cross-section, one surface being concave and adapted to receive a wire to be soldered thereto. The convex surface has a covering of a thin layer of ferromagnetic material having an effective Curie temperature above the fusion temperature of the solder to be employed. A sleeve of heat shrinkable material has an interior ring of solder and is positioned over the region of contact between the wire and terminal end of the pin and has fusible plastic at each end. Each wire is placed on an individual pin and successively clamped in place, each between a different pair of jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignees: Metcal, Inc., AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas H. McGaffigan, Philip T. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5093545
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for soldering using induction heating, which is accomplished by the use of lossy heating particles in or on the solder. The method of this invention provides direct heating of the solder itself through induction heating of the magnetic particles in an alternating magnetic field. The magnetic particles useful in this invention can be ferromagnetic particles or ferrimagnetic particles, preferably ferrites, which have a Curie temperature at least equal to the flow temperature of the solder. Selection of the magnetic lossy heating particles with the appropriate Curie temperature for the system in which the particles are being used provides a system in which the temperature is self-regulating when the alternating magnetic field is applied. This self-regulation feature prevents overheating of the solder in the articles being soldered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5087804
    Abstract: A self-regulating heater including a body of electrically non-conductive material, an induction coil embedded within the body, lossy heating particles dispersed within the body and connection terminals for supplying power to the induction coil. The lossy heating particles produce heat when subjected to an alternating magnetic field produced by the induction coil. The lossy heating particles have a Curie temperature approximately equal to a substantially constant auto-regulation temperature at which the body is heated. The connection terminals supply power to the induction coil so that the induction coil can produce an alternating magnetic field of sufficient intensity to cause the lossy heating particles to heat the body to the auto-regulation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignees: Metcal, Inc., Amp, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5040717
    Abstract: A solder delivery system including a carrier of compliant, dimensionally passive, high-temperature material, the carrier remaining generally dimensionally passive during heating and having a detent therein including fusible material, preferably in the form of a solder paste, positioned therein which is plastically deformable and adhesive-like, the carrier and fusible material together being compliant to conform to objects to be soldered before heating of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignees: Metcal, Inc., AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 4987291
    Abstract: An elongated flexible heater strip is provided having a transmission line section and a heater section employing a high mu material to control temperature at the Curie temperature of the high mu material; the above elements and a return buss being confined in a conductive sheath having a plurality of transverse slots to render the strap flexible, so that it may be cinched about a member to be heated; a strip of conductive material, such as copper, extending at least along the transmission line section interiorly of said sheath to reduce the resistance thereof and increase the current carrying capacity of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignees: Metcal, Inc., AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas H. McGaffigan, Rodney L. Derbyshire, Douglas Wilkerson
  • Patent number: 4522457
    Abstract: A reusable connecting device is disclosed which utilizes a heat-recoverable metallic driver connected to a socket having a biasing portion and a sequentially-operating overload portion. When it is desired to make a connection between this device and other objects, the object is placed within the socket and the driver is caused to shrink, thereby overcoming the biasing portion of the socket and causing the socket to contact and hold the object, the overload portion then acting as an overload mechanism for the heat-recoverable metallic driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. McGaffigan, Harold B. Kent
  • Patent number: 4505532
    Abstract: A connector is described for electrical connection and, preferably, the removal of an array package having a plurality of pins with a substrate having contact elements. A first board having a plurality of openings formed therethrough and a second parallel board having a plurality of complementary openings formed therethrough are interconnected by a heat-recoverable metal grid. One end of the grid is connected to the first board and the other end of the grid is connected to the second board to move the boards relative to each other to effect engagement between insertable elements, e.g. the contact elements of the substrate and the pins of an array package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Patrick Hine, Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 4468076
    Abstract: A connector is described for removable electrical connection of an array package having a plurality of pins. A first board having a plurality of openings formed therethrough and a second parallel board having a plurality of complementary contact elements extending into the openings are interconnected by a heat-recoverable metal motion transmitting means preferably in the form of a grid positioned between the boards. One end of the grid is connected to the first board and the other end of the grid is connected to the second board to move the boards relative to each other causing engagement between the contact elements and the pins of an array package that may be inserted into the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Jean P. Hine, Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 4462651
    Abstract: A reusable heat-recoverable connecting device having an annular driver member and a circumferentially split annular spring biasing means inside and generally concentric with the driver member. The spring biasing means normally exerts an outward radial force against the inside surface of the driver member. The driver member is made from a heat-recoverable metal having a martensitic state and an austenitic state. The driver member is expanded radially outward by the spring biasing means when the driver member is in its martensitic state to facilitate insertion of a substrate. The driver member recovers to its non-expanded dimension when it returns to its austenitic state to cause engagement between the spring biasing means and an inserted substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan