Patents Represented by Attorney Ralph E. Krisher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5315076
    Abstract: A push button switch assembly has a housing, a switch mechanism mounted within the housing, a plurality of push rods extending through the housing and a plurality of elongate sliders movably mounted within the housing. The switch mechanism includes a plurality of paired electrical contacts. A first end of the push rods is formed to have an enlarged cross-section, and terminates within the housing. The push rods are axially movable relative to the housing between extended and depressed positions. The ends of the push rods interact with cam surfaces on the movable sliders to cause the sliders to move within the housing in response to movements of the push rods. Cam surfaces on opposing edges of the sliders interact with the switch mechanism to open and close selected ones of the switches. The axial displacement of the push rod required to actuate the switch is relatively short (approximately 1/16 inch).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Renkes, Lyle J. Bush
  • Patent number: 5306976
    Abstract: A motor having a rotatable assembly which rotates about an axis of rotation and having a stationary assembly in magnetic coupling relation with the rotatable assembly. The stationary assembly includes a stator core which has two ends and a plurality of teeth. Adjacent teeth define a slot therebetween. The teeth are wrapped with windings adapted for commutation in at least one preselected sequence. The stationary assembly also includes a slot liner in each of the slots. The slot liners are disposed between the stator core and the windings, thus, separating the windings from the stator core. An end cap on each end of the stator core retains the slot liners in their respective slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Beckman
  • Patent number: 5300741
    Abstract: A pressure sensitive control device having a housing made up of a plurality of housing members, a diaphragm, a bistable snap-disc, a switch and an actuator. The snap-disc moves from one configuration to another upon application of pressure over a predetermined amount to drive the actuator which moves the switch from its normal operating position, which can be either closed or open, to a tripped position, which is opposite its normal operating position. Two adjacent housing members, which support the snap-disc and switch, respectively, are formed with cooperating spacers which allow the spacing of these housing members to be continuously varied over a small range of adjustment to allow the switch point of the control device to be adjusted after partial assembly of the control device. The diaphragm and some of the housing members may be subassembled for testing the components of the control device prior to complete assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Hogue, James P. Frank, Donald E. Nice
  • Patent number: 5283469
    Abstract: An impact start assist device for an electric motor comprises a driven member coupled to a load and a drive member coupled to the motor and to the driven member. The driven member and the drive member are rotatable, relative to each other, through at least a portion of a revolution. The device further comprises an arrangement for providing a substantially instantaneous transfer of angular momentum from the drive member to the driven member after relative rotation of the members through at least the portion of the revolution. A locking arrangement is provided for locking the drive member and the driven member together at high rotational speeds. At least a portion of the locking arrangement is centrifugally actuated, and a spring is provided to disengage the locking mechanism at low speeds, or at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Franklin L. Forbes, Donald W. Jones
  • Patent number: 5277500
    Abstract: A fractional horsepower motor has a thrust bearing assembly mounted on the motor shaft to dampen the axial movement of the shaft. The assembly includes a thrust collar formed of resinous material and a thrust plate formed of metal with a wave spring positioned therebetween. Apertures in the thrust plate receive resilient hook projections formed on the thrust collar as a means for coupling the plate to the collar. Torque transmitting projections formed on the thrust collar engage notches formed in the thrust plate. The hook projections and the torque transmitting projections act together to capture and hold the wave spring between the collar and plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Arthur C. Keck
  • Patent number: 5276958
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electric motor wherein pole pieces, made of pole laminations provided with outwardly extending projections are assembled into pole piece blocks, which are provided with stator coils premounted thereon. The pole piece blocks are secured to a stator ring made of stator laminations. The projections on the pole pieces are inserted into depressions formed in an inner wall of the stator ring and are then anchored thereto by means of anchoring rods inserted axially through passages provided in the stator ring and holes formed in the projections of the pole pieces. The projections and the corresponding depressions mating therewith are shaped by the step of forming the stator laminations which are formed such that the spaces of the projections and depressions receiving the same in assembly will occur as a result of a selective laying together of pre-assembled lamination packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Aage J. Larsen
  • Patent number: 5266761
    Abstract: A terminal board assembly for a dynamoelectric machine includes a body, a switch device associated with the body and having a movable actuating lever. An enclosures overlays the switch device and includes a pair of at least partially overlapping cover segments associated with the body for extending in part in enclosing relation about the switch device. Aligned passages extend through the pair of cover segments for the extension therethrough of a part of the actuating lever exteriorly of the pair of cover segments. A movable seat strip spans the passages and is associated in sealing relation with the pair of cover segments and the actuating lever part for accommodating the movement of the actuating lever while maintaining the sealing relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lynn E. Fisher, Richard A. Wandler, James P. Frank
  • Patent number: 5250867
    Abstract: An improved salient pole configuration for a dynamoelectric machine is disclosed, particularly for a permanent magnet brushless DC motor wherein cogging torque is a problem. One or more apertures or "reluctance holes" are disposed within the head portion of the salient poles in the stator such that the reluctance holes are substantially adjacent but not adjoining the pole face, thereby forming a bridge between the aperture and the pole face. The reluctance hole bridge provides a substantially constant air gap flux density to reduce cogging, while at the same time, provides a low reluctance shunt path for the armature reaction flux around the permanent magnet to improve the demagnetization margin. The efficiency of the machine is also improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Daniel Gizaw
  • Patent number: 5245237
    Abstract: A two compartment motor has a frame, a pair of end shields disposed adjacent opposing ends of the frame to define a first compartment, a stator winding supported by the frame within the first compartment, an armature rotatably supported by the end shields and disposed within the first compartment adjacent the stator winding, a cover mounted to the motor adjacent one of the end shields to define a second compartment between the cover and the end shield, and a control plate mounted within the second compartment. The control plate serves as a mounting surface for securing a plurality of electrical components used in the control and operation of the motor in position within the second compartment. The control plate is a molded plastic component having integrally formed mounting mechanisms for at least one of the electrical components. The electrical components may include a starting capacitor, voltage and/or speed control switches, an overload device and electrical terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lynn E. Fisher, Michael A. Marks, David L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5237737
    Abstract: A permanent magnet rotor includes a rotor core having an axis of rotation and longitudinally extending radially projecting ribs. A plurality of arcuate magnetic elements are retained against an outer surface of the rotor by a cylindrical shell such that each magnet is disposed between a pair of the ribs. A hardenable adhesive is interposed between the outer surface of the core and the magnets and cooperates with the ribs and magnets to prevent rotational slippage of the magnets relative to the core during rotation of the rotor. Various embodiments utilize different techniques for retaining the components in assembled relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert V. Zigler, William H. Stark
  • Patent number: 5237231
    Abstract: A structured product family of dynamoelectric machines for use in a plurality of applications has a frame with a closed end, and a set of permanent magnets is adhesively secured within the frame. An armature disposed in the frame for interaction with the permanent magnets includes a shaft, a core having a set of winding receiving slots therein, and a commutator. During manufacturing and assembly, stress on the motor shaft and commutator is minimized. A brush plate is associated with the frame for locating a set of brushes relative to the commutator, and an end shield is secured to the frame opposite its closed end. At least one freely aligning bearing assembly disposed in the end shield for freely aligning the shaft and including a bearing and a retainer having predetermined conditions preset with the retainer being adhesively secured to the end shield. A bracket is adhesively secured to the frame for connecting the dynamoelectric machine in anyone of the applications; and a novel brush assembly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Harald E. Blaettner, Richard F. Uhen, Robert E. Ellis, Eldon R. Cunningham, Michael J. Usher, Joseph E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5235159
    Abstract: A control system for regulating electrical power input to the resistive heating elements of an electric heating apparatus, including domestic cooking appliances, is provided which employs at least one piezoceramic relay device. The electrical power is applied with the piezoceramic relay device responsive to control signals and with the control circuitry being directly and ohmically connected to the power source. In one embodiment, the control system employs individual piezoceramic relay devices for power regulation to the individual heating elements while in different embodiments a single piezoceramic relay device regulates power input to a pair of the heating elements. A method of operating the controlled apparatus in such manner and an apparatus having such control system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William P. Kornrumpf, John D. Harnden, Jr., Robert P. Alley
  • Patent number: 5231348
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing dynamoelectric machine rotors, particularly squirrel cage rotors for induction motors, to obtain resistance, reactance, and effective skew values to permit identification of rotor defects. The rotor is rotated in an alternating magnetic field and pick-up coils are used to sense the voltage generated in the rotor by sensing the magnetic flux generated by magnetization of the rotor during rotation. Current sensing is used to determine the current used in magnetizing the rotor and a separate skew pick-up coil is utilized to detect effective electrical skew. These signals are processed to determine whether the rotor meets predetermined pass/fail criteria, to provide detailed statistical data and to generate a failure indication responsive to one of the values falling outside respective predetermined limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Phillip R. Herrick, Daniel C. Ewing, Floyd H. Wright, Kevin M. Truelove
  • Patent number: 5227704
    Abstract: A method of operating a brushless motor having a stationary assembly with at least two different energizable windings for producing spaced apart magnetic fields in time sequence, and a rotor adapted to rotate in response to the magnetic fields. The method includes the steps of simulating rotor position in accordance with the back emf condition of at least one winding, energizing a selected one of the windings in accordance with the simulated rotor position, sensing an underspeed condition when the motor speed is less than a minimum value for a length of time, and preventing energization of any of the windings when the motor speed is less than the minimum value for the length of time. An electrically commutated motor controller apparatus controls the speed of a variable speed motor compressor driven by an electrically commutated motor. A controller circuit includes a circuit for producing feedback signals representative of a back emf of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: David M. Erdman
  • Patent number: 5223761
    Abstract: An electric motor and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein pole pieces, made of pole laminations provided with outwardly extending projections and assembled into pole piece blocks, which are provided with stator coils premounted thereon, are secured to a stator ring made of stator laminations. The projections on the pole pieces are inserted into depressions formed in an inner wall of the stator ring and are then anchored thereto by means of anchoring rods inserted axially through passages provided in the stator ring and holes formed in the projections of the pole pieces. The projections and the corresponding depressions mating therewith are shaped by the stamping out of the stator laminations which are formed such that the shapes of the projections and depressions receiving the same in assembly will occur as a result of a selective laying together of pre-assembled lamination packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Aage J. Larsen
  • Patent number: 5216309
    Abstract: Dynamoelectric machines are disclosed that are characterized by lengthened ground potential leakage current paths, desirable mechanical conformations, mechanical integrity when subjected to expected centrifugal forces, and ease of manufacture. One process involves establishing an extended or elongated path for commutator leakage currents with a path extending structure, establishing a cantilevered insulation skirt about the in-board or armature coil end of a commutator, and securely fastening such skirt to the commutator. The material utilized in making the skirt is one: that has electrical properties that permit it to withstand leakage currents without tracking; that for practical purposes is non-burnable, so as to resist flashovers or sparking; and that has the ability to withstand elevated temperatures that are encountered within dynamoelectric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roy L. Balke, Joseph E. Jack
  • Patent number: 5214839
    Abstract: A high permeability slot wedge for a dynamoelectric machine with the wedge configured as an elongated bar of uniform cross-sectional configuration formed of a ferromagnetic material having modestly good electrically insulative properties comprising approximately by weight 60% to 80% relatively small ferromagnetic particles such as powdered iron, about 10% reinforcing glass fabric; and 15% to 20% unsaturated thermosetting plastic resin binder such as a polyester resin is disclosed. The ferromagnetic material is homogeneously distributed throughout the thermosetting plastic binder so that the permeability and resistivity of the resulting wedge is substantially uniform throughout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John C. Rieber, Jeffrey S. McCoy
  • Patent number: 5198631
    Abstract: A pressure sensitive control device having a housing made up of a plurality of housing members, a diaphragm, a bistable snap-disc, a switch and an actuator. The snap-disc moves from one configuration to another upon application of pressure over a predetermined amount to drive the actuator which moves the switch from its normal operating position, which can be either closed or open, to a tripped position, which is opposite its normal operating position. Two adjacent housing members, which support the snap-disc and switch, respectively, are formed with cooperating spacers which allow the spacing of these housing members to be continuously varied over a small range of adjustment to allow the switch point of the control device to be adjusted after partial assembly of the control device. The diaphragm and some of the housing members may be subassembled for testing the components of the control device prior to complete assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Hogue, James P. Frank, Donald E. Nice
  • Patent number: 5197907
    Abstract: In general, a termination device or terminal is provided in one form of the invention which device is lanced from an electrically conductive sheet material. The lead termination device includes a generally flat body having a pair of integral angularly arranged legs, a pair of opposite end sections on one of the legs, a flange extending beyond one of the opposite end sections, a pair of openings through the opposite end sections, respectively, and a slot through the one leg and spaced adjacent the other of the opposite end sections. The one leg is deformed into a generally closed loop, and the opposite end sections on the one leg are arranged in overlaying engagement with each other. The flange on the one opposite end section is inserted into the slot in the one leg spaced adjacent the other opposite end section, and the openings in the opposite end sections are aligned with each other in overlaying engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jerome P. Hurtgen
  • Patent number: 5192888
    Abstract: A terminal box for an electric motor has a base and a cover. The base has a curved bottom which conforms to the curve of a cylindrical shell or housing of the motor. The base has first and second portions to which a conduit can be attached which are at angles to each other. The base can be rotated 180.degree. between two positions on the motor housing. A conduit can thus be run to the terminal box from any of four directions. The base is formed such that the first and second portions to which the conduit can be attached are relatively unobstructed when the cover is off. This permits wire to be pulled from the conduit through the terminal box in a relatively unobstructed path. That is, the path of the wire pull need not be angled to avoid an obstructing sidewall.In an embodiment, the base has first and second adjacent sidewalls opposed by third and fourth sidewalls, respectively. The first and second sidewalls are relatively higher than their respective opposed third and fourth sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark F. Fleer