Patents Represented by Attorney Frederick M. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 4782661
    Abstract: A subassembly for controlling the mount density of an intumescent mat around a frangible catalyst coated monolith of unknown but varied dimension when the monolith is installed in a catalytic converter, wherein a convolute sleeve of thin intumescent mat from a single piece is wrapped in sufficient layers around the monolith to provide a resultant monolith-mat subassembly of predetermined dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Motley, Kenneth J. Pomeroy
  • Patent number: 4750251
    Abstract: A method of controlling the mount density of an intumescent mat around a frangible catalyst coated monolith of unknown but varied dimension when the monolith is installed in a catalytic converter, wherein a convolute sleeve of thin intumescent mat from a single piece is wrapped in sufficient layers around the monolith to provide a resultant monolith-mat subassembly of predetermined dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Motley, Kenneth J. Pomeroy
  • Patent number: 4098545
    Abstract: The method of maintaining the adherence of a permeable organic coating to a wall of a dishwasher which is exposed to water, water vapor or dilute aqueous solutions at temperatures higher than surrounding ambient by reducing or eliminating the formation of blisters between said coating and said wall and comprising the steps of selectively insulating the side of said wall exposed to ambient in those areas of greatest thermal gradient where blisters are most likely to form in the absence of such insulation, and sufficiently insulating said side of said wall in such areas that the temperature gradient across said coating is reduced to the point that the partial pressure difference driving force of the vapor across said coating is negligible and not more than the adhesion forces of said coating to said wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene F. Gaiser, Norman W. James, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4018067
    Abstract: An agitator for a horizontally oscillating clothes washer includes a hollow perforate column on a flared skirt configured to provide three distinct levels of agitator action. The first and second levels comprise four triangular fins. The first or upper level of each fin helps submerge dry articles by pulling them downwardly, channelizes the articles between the fins to keep the articles in straight toroidal planes, and beats bellow-causing air out of the articles without generating a "suds lock" condition. The second or intermediate level provides just enough circulation to maintain the articles loose, unbunched, and channelized. The third or bottom level comprises four rounded vanes projecting upwardly from the skirt with each vane having a decreasing cross section in the radially outer direction. The outer bottom edge of each vane is rooted to the skirt by a thin web, the decreasing cross section in combination with the thin web allowing the vane to flex in a controlled pattern when under load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1977
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Nick Vona, Jr., Kenneth O. Sisson
  • Patent number: 4009801
    Abstract: A multiple charge dispenser has two compartments on the inner panel of a dishwasher door. A semi-circular lid selectively automatically or manually uncovers one or both of the compartments. The lid is integral with one end of a pivot shaft which extends through the inner panel to receive a latch plate on the other side of the panel. Lid and latch plate are spring-biased to pivot together from a CLOSED position to an OPEN position with an INTERMEDIATE position therebetween. Such positions are defined by CLOSED, INTERMEDIATE and OPEN dispensing cam stops formed along an inboard side of the latch plate. A detent, normally stationary relative to the pivotal movement of the latch plate, is yieldably, normally biased toward the inboard side of the latch plate to engage sequentially each one of the cam stops as the latch plate pivots past the detent. The latch plate has an outboard pause stop cantilevered from the inboard side thereof and pivotally between the CLOSED and INTERMEDIATE dispensing cam stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Richard B. Williams
  • Patent number: 3991962
    Abstract: A mechanism for completely self-leveling all four legs of an appliance cabinet includes a polypropylene foot at each corner of the cabinet. Each foot is interconnected by a continuous cable for vertical movement in unison relative to the cabinet and to each other. Each foot has an elongated slot for receiving and blocking a wedge through the outboard side thereof. A locking cable connects the inboard side of each wedge to an adjusting lever at the front of the cabinet. After the cabinet has been leveled, the adjusting lever is moved to pull the wedges into locking engagement with the sides of their respective slots, thereby to lock each foot in fixed relation with the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Laszlo I. Kovats
  • Patent number: 3989054
    Abstract: A dishwasher has upper and lower spray arms, a telescoping spray tower and a filtering system which includes a frusto-conical screen cage, the outside of which connects to a dishwasher sump by way of a tangential channel including a drain opening therefrom. The inside of the cage connects to the inlet of a double outlet, centrifugal, recirculation pump. Particulates are filtered from recirculating dishwashing fluid on the outside of the screen as the fluid swirls around the cage in a clockwise direction. The tangential approach of the fluid sets up centrifugal forces as an aid in removing filtered particulates from the outside of the screen. A backwash spray rotates in a counterclockwise direction on the inside of the cage to keep the particulates from sticking to the screen. The pump volute is divided into two predetermined volumes rotated with respect to one another to produce two distinct cutoff points and outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Mercer
  • Patent number: 3982392
    Abstract: A combustion apparatus for gas turbine engines employs a combustion liner structure adapted to promote complete combustion of liquid hydrocarbon fuel and minimize undesired combustion products. Compressed primary air flows radially inward with swirl into a prechamber into which fuel is sprayed. Except during start-up, the air is heated. Normally, the air mixes with and evaporates the fuel and the mixture flows through a throat into a reaction chamber. The upstream end of the reaction chamber is bounded by a conical annular wall. The liner wall downstream of the throat defines the reaction zone to which additional primary air is fed and a dilution zone to which secondary air is admitted. The area of the primary air entrance is variable to maintain a lean fuel-air ratio in the reaction zone throughout the operating regime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: David E. Crow
  • Patent number: 3982802
    Abstract: An extensible dishwasher rack arrangement has a rail on each side of the dishwasher tub and a dish support rack which has on each side thereof a pair of rollers straddling the rail for supporting the rack as the rack is pulled into a position extending from the tub. Rigid pins project sidewise from the rack to bump the rail and prevent the rack from being lifted in front. An end cap on the outboard end of the rail provides a bumper to stop the rack in its extended position. The end cap includes an integral latch finger which blocks one of the rigid pins to prevent lifting the rack front in its extended position. The latch finger may be flexed out of the way of the blocked pin to facilitate removal of the rack from the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Paul D. Bailey
  • Patent number: 3974354
    Abstract: A microwave oven has reflective walls and includes a magnetron distributing microwave energy throughout said oven. The oven includes an open top ceramic dish for supporting food to be cooked by said microwave energy. A ceramic cover closes said open top dish and each is homogeneously lossy throughout for browning food. The dish and cover have integral handle portions. Each handle portion has a first coating of reflective material on the handle portions only of said dish and said cover for reflecting microwave energy in said oven away from said handle portions to prevent heat buildup in said handle portions due to said microwave energy while the remaining lossy portions of the dish continue to facilitate the browning of food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: George B. Long