Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Ronald C. Kamp
  • Patent number: 5841621
    Abstract: This invention pertains to sensorless measurement of electromagnetically induced displacement in actuators and similar units. Primarily, the device imposes a constant frequency and amplitude excitation sine wave on a coil through a fixed impedance of a drive isolation network. The amplitude and phase of the voltage across the coil fluctuate depending upon the coil's inductance. This variation in the value of the inductance is dependent upon the change in magnetic flux density generated by the coil current and the displacement in air gap between the coil pole and armature. Accordingly, a measurable magnitude of displacement can be controllably imposed upon a system of solenoids. The displacement is thus measured and set without the use of extrinsic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur L. Dean, Michael Steven Giusto
  • Patent number: 5837920
    Abstract: The break action cannon invention disclosed herein enables weaponization and integration of complex fire control systems concurrent with projectile loading operations in a gun system such that superior firing cycle and efficient power and thermal management are achieved. A barrel is detachably shifted and tipped at an angle to accept a projectile while propellant charge supply systems and other firing preparations proceed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Staiert, James E. Wildman
  • Patent number: 5788049
    Abstract: Articles, having a cylindrical shape, such as cans, are rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position as they are transported between a pair of contact cables. The contact cables are set to diverge above a take away conveyor and at this point the cans will rotate. A magnetic assist device is positioned proximate the take away conveyor to assist can rotation and stabilize the cans on the take away conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corportion
    Inventor: Paul Lawrence Ardison
  • Patent number: 5786014
    Abstract: An improved higher capacity caustic peeler of fruits such as tomatoes. The peeler subjects the tomatoes to a caustic applicator with shallower buckets with apertures in the buckets and a higher number of caustic dispensing jets, and then provides peeling using a flexible cable cage, which tumbles the tomatoes. A pinch roller is used to remove the remainder of the peels (or skins).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Sherman Howell Creed, Jeffrey Alan Dahl, Robert Leland Frenkel, Thomas Milton Sams
  • Patent number: 5761757
    Abstract: A passenger boarding bridge for providing a passageway from an aircraft to a passenger terminal includes a cab section with a floor. The floor of the bridge is provided with a cutout portion that can accommodate the stair components of commuter aircraft that are being served by the passenger boarding bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Ronald Mitchell, Daniel Dean Pohly, Eric Peter Beazer, Bruce Wayne Anderson
  • Patent number: 5747085
    Abstract: The invention provides a rotary processor which uses a linear motion detector to measure the deflection of the rotary processor as the rotary processor is heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Joost Veltman, Andrew Carl Prins, Scott R. Cavanaugh
  • Patent number: 5743176
    Abstract: A point of sale juice extractor where diverse types of fruit to be processed are fed from a storage bin through an auger to a grater plate. The juice is released from the fruit at the grater plate and is centrifuged into a collector pan while the waste pulp by-product is discharged into a waste container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Anderson, Wayne C. Sherman
  • Patent number: 5742609
    Abstract: The smart canister systems disclosed herein enables missile population to increase while minimizing the need for additional interface hardware. Particularly, multiplexing and demultiplexing functions and conversion flexibility enable the system to be adaptable to different types of missile characteristics and hardware. A redundant, bi-directional bus architecture with a distributed and dynamically reconfigurable control as well as enhanced built-in-test, fault monitoring and display capability enable the smart canister systems to provide a faster response time and higher launcher availability in a multifarious missile environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Inventors: Mark R. Kondrak, Pradip C. Kar, Ronald E. Hannig, Charles H. Hoke, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5727596
    Abstract: A changeover valve which accommodates thermal transients and is operable over a range of temperatures includes a crossover member (20) and a seat assembly (30) in each outlet passage (15), a thrust bearing (45) rotatably supporting the crossover member and a split load ring (40) comprising an inner ring (142) and an outer ring (146) threaded into the changeover valve body. A wave spring (150) is disposed between the inner and outer ring. The loading on the wave spring can be adjusted by the threaded in outer ring, which in turn adjusts the force of engagement of the crossover member against the seat assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Harry E. Eminger
  • Patent number: 5337885
    Abstract: A travel monitor for a rectangular sludge conveyor having a plurality of scrapers attached to and driven by a pair of chains, each of which is formed in a closed loop having an upper run. A pair of detector sprockets independently engage and are driven by the upper runs. Switches positioned adjacent the sprockets create a series of pulses in response to their rotation. The phase difference between the series of pulses resulting from rotation of the sprockets is detected, and a misalignment alarm is activated when the phase difference exceeds a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Mills, John C. Lodholz, Rangasami Sarat-Chandra, Franklin P. Orlando, Donald J. Christian
  • Patent number: 5335856
    Abstract: A trailer mounted sprayer having an air boom supported from the trailer frame by a four-bar linkage movable by a hydraulic cylinder to adjust the elevation of the boom and with ground-engaging wheels rotatably attached to bell cranks mounted on the frame and pivotable by cylinders to control the ground clearance. Accumulators isolate the frame from shock loads created as the wheels traverse uneven ground and also isolate the boom from shock loads that would otherwise be transmitted from the frame to the boom. A draft member pinned to both the trailer and to the tractor pulling the trailer has hydraulic jacks to determine which of the pinned connections will control the pivotal movement between the tractor and the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Micha Nathan
  • Patent number: 5261526
    Abstract: A conveyor system with driven balls, in which each driven ball is supported by at least one driving roller. The point of contact between the driving roller and the ball is located at some distance below the horizontal plane through the center of the ball, which distance is smaller than the radius of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Nico Rombouts
  • Patent number: 5191919
    Abstract: A closed transfer apparatus for transferring liquid from a container to a dilution tank in measured volume includes an actuator moveable to a first position that energizes an electric pump to pump liquid from the container into a transfer tank and moveable to a second position which energizes the pump to pump liquid from the transfer tank to the dilution tank; the actuator being biased to a center position in which the electric pump is de-energized and the tanks and the container are all isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Peter S. Barrows, Clyde D. Watson
  • Patent number: 5184511
    Abstract: A measuring tank capable of providing accurate measurement of liquid contained therein even when not in an upright position having a rear wall connected to left and right side walls and a front wall connected between said side walls and having a generally concave shape with a sight glass affixed thereto adjacent its closest approach to the rear wall. The volume of the tank to the left and right of a plane passing through the centerline of the sight glass being equal and the volume of the tank to the front and rear of a plane passing through the centerline of the sight glass parallel to the rear wall being equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Peter S. Barrows, James A. Willis
  • Patent number: 5178841
    Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing containers, such as beakers, on a line of an aseptic food packaging machine has a sintered stainless steel tube (6) surrounded by an outer tube (7) which has a plurality of outlets (10). A source of hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2 O.sub.2) (1) is vaporized by heated air (4) and passed into the sintered tube (6), from where it permeates to the outer tube (7) and via the outlets (10) to respective containers (18), to sterilize the containers. The combination of the sintered tube and outer tube serves to evenly distribute the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 vapor to evenly sterilize a row or beakers, indexed through the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Ian M. Vokins, James B. Abbott
  • Patent number: 5172645
    Abstract: A granular dispenser for a planter having a closure means for sealing the hopper which is operated by a hydraulic cylinder which is connected in parallel with the hydraulic cylinder normally provided on a planter for raising and lowering the planter tool bar so that the closure means is fully closed before the planter begins to raise and remains closed until the planter is fully lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald J. Billett, Samuel F. Tutt
  • Patent number: 5162707
    Abstract: A propulsion system for using a pair of electric induction motors to power a pair of vehicle drive wheels. The motors are driven by pulses of electric current from a common dc bus. The inductance of stator windings cause electric current to power the motors during the time between pulses so power from the dc bus is low. When a vehicle is making a tight turn, an inside motor provides an electric current to the dc bus to supply additional power to an outside motor. Speed and steering signals operate the electric motors and control speed of an engine and an alternator which supply power to the dc bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Craig L. Joseph
  • Patent number: 5160017
    Abstract: A rolling ball assembly for a rolling ball deck with a spherical ball (10), a support for the ball to permit free rotation about any horizontal axis through the ball; a pair of horizontal drive shafts (4, 5), one on either sie of the ball; a collar (8, 9) on each driving shaft, with the periphery of each collar being in driving engagement with the ball at or close to a horizontal plane through the equator of the ball, and between the horizontal axis of the ball perpendicular to the drive shafts and the horizontal axis parallel to the drive shafts so the ball may be rotated about any horizontal axis through rotation of the drive shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Goodman, Anthony Fernley
  • Patent number: 5147032
    Abstract: A conveyor system with driven balls, in which each driven ball is supported by at least one driving roller. The point of contact between the driving roller and the ball is located at some distance below the horizontal plane through the center of the ball, which distance is smaller than the radius of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Nico Rombouts
  • Patent number: 5132130
    Abstract: A method of handling books between a library and a treatment site in which the books are held against relative movement during transit but are released during treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Robert O. Braeutigam, William P. Pavlak