Patents Represented by Attorney Ronald J. LaPorte
  • Patent number: 4105878
    Abstract: A compact combination vacuum interrupter and visible break disconnect switch, in which the interrupter is electrically connected in series with the disconnect. The interrupter is manually closed, and can be tripped manually or automatically on overcurrent or undervoltage line conditions by a quick make, quick break, trip-free operating mechanism.The disconnect is manually opened or closed by a separate operating mechanism, which is mechanically interlocked with the interrupter operating mechanism so that the disconnect cannot be opened when the interrupter is closed, or the interrupter cannot be closed when the disconnect is open. The disconnect can be padlocked in its open position.The interrupter is mounted integral with the movable contact of the disconnect on a pivotable, insulating support member of the disconnect, with the movable contact rod of the interrupter pivotably connected to the interrupter operating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventors: Kazuo H. Date, Ronald A. Wainio
  • Patent number: 4103853
    Abstract: A positive-locking cluster mount for supporting electrical transformers and like heavy objects from upright poles characterized by bearing plates held in circumferentially spaced relationship about the pole by adjustable link members and end links each having singular hook ends that engage into the slotted side walls of the bearing plates and are locked into initial loose, though positively connected, positions by the placement of the diverging support brackets thereon. This facilitates the placement of the partially assembled cluster mount at a desired position on the pole and also facilitates the final connection and tightening of the cluster mount thereabout to receive the transformers. The support brackets are assembled in outwardly diverging paired relationship from bearing plates of different lengths to accommodate small and large transformers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventor: Edward C. Bannan
  • Patent number: 4101860
    Abstract: The fusible element of a single-element, dual-function, electric fuse is disposed within a passage within a housing of inorganic ceramic material which has a high thermal conductivity; and the major portion of that fusible element is displaced radially from the axis of that passage to be in intimate heat-transferring relation with one side of that passage. Two of the "weak spots" of that fusible element are in close heat-transferring relation with the terminals of that electric fuse; and a portion of that fusible element which is intermediate those two weak spots is in intimate heat-transferring relation with the opposite side of that passage. The resulting transference of heat from that fusible element to that passage enables those two weak spots to continuously carry the rated current of that fusible element even though those two weak spots have very small cross sections, and hence are able to provide desirable current-interrupting action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventor: Aloysius J. Fister
  • Patent number: 4098098
    Abstract: An out-of-balance and safety switch arrangement for a washing machine or the like device having a movable cover to control access to the clothes receiving tub, and wherein the tub is rotated rapidly to execute a centrifugal extraction cycle, includes a microswitch having an actuator normally biased to an extended position and depressible for energizing the drive motor for the tub and a switch actuator lever arm mounted adjacent the washing machine tub access cover for pivotal movement in first and second generally perpendicular planes with the lever arm being spring biased in the first plane for movement of the first end thereof into operative alignment with the switch actuator, the opposite end of the lever arm being positioned for engagement by the access cover upon closing the latter to move the first end of the lever arm in the second plane into engagement with the actuator for depression thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventor: Ronald L. Altnau
  • Patent number: 4090225
    Abstract: A tap-changing transformer system, utilized for voltage regulation of the line potential applied to a load from a source of energy, has a non-arcing switch to protect tap contacts during a tap change. A fail-safe circuit is utilized to determine that the non-arcing switch and its associated circuitry are operating properly before a movable tap contact is transferred from one stationary tap to another. In the event that the fail-safe circuit detects an improper operation of the non-arcing switch, the source is connected directly to the load to preclude the passage of any load current through the tap-changing transformer. A particular form of transfer switch useful in effecting the connection of the source directly to the load employs a current-limiting impedance arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventors: Clyde Gilker, Arland D. Lamke
  • Patent number: 4088067
    Abstract: A sandwich grill or similar cooking appliance is disclosed. The sandwich grill is adapted to heat both upper and lower surfaces of a sandwich or other article to be cooked, under controlled conditions. The appliance includes a main housing unit with a lower platen supported thereon, an upper platen, and a heat source for both platens. The upper platen is supported by a mounting arm or the like, for movement between a raised position and a range of lowered positions. In the raised position, sandwiches can be placed on or removed from the grill. The upper platen is mounted so that, in the lowered position thereof, the platen may pivot freely so that its lower surface will engage the upper surface of the sandwich. This permits the upper platen to lie parallel to the lower platen or to the upper surface of the sandwich.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventors: Johannes W. Kaebitzsch, John L. Tuegel
  • Patent number: 4084491
    Abstract: This invention teaches an air distributor accessory device for a breeze box type fan having an annular case and having fan blades supported to rotate within the confines of this case. The accessory device is designed to fit against and be secured to the front face of the fan case, and itself has an annular frame that pivotally supports a plurality of vanes in generally parallel relation. Each vane has a slender profile, and depending on its orientation relative to the direction of the air flow over it can either allow the air to pass straight through or redirect it in a sideways manner. Cross members pivotally interconnected all of the vanes to maintain them generally parallel to one another, and to move them uniformly. A small motor unit is connected to one of the cross members to oscillate the vanes side to side in unison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventors: Willard Spotts, Thomas P. Arrandale, Glenn R. Spotts
  • Patent number: 4081900
    Abstract: A method for forming an electrical equipment cover, whose temperature will not appreciably increase when used in an environment of high-strength, time-varying magnetic fields, is provided. The cover is formed from a strong, relatively inexpensive magnetic steel which would ordinarily become heated in such an environment by hysteresis and eddy current losses. In order to prevent this heating, a circular blank or disk of this steel is determined and cut. Selected segments of the blank are removed to form slots in a polygonal pattern concentric with the disk and to form slots along a diameter of the disk or circular blank. All of the slots are filled with strips of a non-magnetic metal, preferably of low electrical resistance, which are then welded to the disk or circular blank. The welds are then ground to smooth the surface of the circular blank. Openings for current-carrying bushings are established in the blank to connect ends of adjacent slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventors: Richard R. Boni, Joseph J. Janubetz
  • Patent number: 4066203
    Abstract: A method of electrically and hydraulically connecting a conductor bar having a plurality of hollow water-cooled conductors involves compressing the conductor bar and shims of brazing material in a connector clip formed of a pair of mating clip members. Brazing shims (strips and bands) are placed in desired positions, and then the components are heated and hydraulically compressed. The conductor bar and brazing material assembly is sized for a tight fit in one dimension, but oversized in another dimension so that compression results in a desired distribution of the molten brazing material. During compression, the clip members are secured from relative motion, other than displacement toward one another, and air is passed through the hollow conductors to prevent the accumulation of brazing material in the open ends thereof. In addition to the clip members, the connector device includes a water inlet member with a stem that is inserted between and brazed to the clip members after the compression step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1978
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventor: David Peter Davies
  • Patent number: 4065659
    Abstract: The disclosed cooking device has a cooking cavity with an access opening and a door for closing same, and has a rack in the cavity to support the food to be cooked. The device has electric heating elements in the cavity, and control means that energize the heating elements approximately 10 to 45% of potential high level heat outputs thereof. The total power input of the low level energized heating elements is in the range of 15 to 30% maximum and thus provides heating of air in the cavity only to within the range of 220.degree. to 300.degree. F maximum, without food load, and at a low rate so that the cavity air temperature generally will only exceed the temperature of the food by 20.degree. to 50.degree. F aproximately during a sustained cooking cycle. This low temperature method of cooking does not require personal tending to the food and minimizes the chances of burning the food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventors: Ronald E. Yount, Robert A. Bell
  • Patent number: 4059816
    Abstract: An electrical loadbreak fuse and canister assembly with arc quenching means operative upon withdrawal of the fuse from the canister or upon insertion of the fuse in the canister under either load or fault conditions. The canister, formed of a glass filled polyester tube, is designed to extend within the enclosure for an electrical device to be protected by the assembly, and is provided with a flange at the outer end for mounting on the enclosure. A fixed loadbreak contact at the inner end of the canister is enclosed within a non-conductive sleeve having a collar formed there around. The inner end of the fuse is provided with a loadbreak contact probe having a non-conductive tip and with a non-conductive disc mounted between the fuse and the contact probe. Both the sleeve and collar, and the disc serve to defuse and cool ionized gases generated by arcing between the loadbreak contacts within the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1977
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventors: Thayer A. Bonecutter, Charles E. Lewis, John E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4058784
    Abstract: A circuit-interrupting device has a stationary current-conducting member, a movable current-conducting member, a connector which accommodates the adjacent ends of the current-conducting members and which normally holds a mass of heat-softenable alloy in engagement with those adjacent ends, an indicator which is connected to the movable current-conducting member and a spring which can simultaneously move the movable current-conducting member, and the indicator to moved positions whenever the circuit-interrupting device opens the circuit. The adjacent ends of the current-conducting members extend into the connector a distance less than one-half of the minimum distance through which the spring will move the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventor: Aldino J. Gaia
  • Patent number: 4058786
    Abstract: The dual element fuse of the present invention has at least one fusible element and at least one mass of heat softenable material; and that fusible element will respond to a short circuit to fuse and thereby assure opening of the circuit, whereas that mass of heat softenable material will respond to a long-continued relatively-low potentially-hurtful overcurrent to soften and thereby initiate opening of the circuit. That dual element fuse has a shunt element which shunts the mass of heat softenable material and which will fuse after that mass of heat softenable material has initiated opening of the circuit. That shunt element has a current rating which is larger than the current rating of the mass of heat softenable material; and that shunt element has a current-interrupting characteristic which has the same shape as that of the current-interrupting characteristic of the fusible element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventors: Aldino J. Gaia, Angelo Urani
  • Patent number: 4010882
    Abstract: A sprocket drive device for a computer form feeder for transporting a computer printout web having predeterminedly spaced apertures along the edges thereof along the upper and lower surfaces and about a free end of a copyboard overlying the copy platen of a copying machine, including a pin chain assembly mounted on spaced driven sprocket and idler wheels. The pin chain assembly includes a plurality of predeterminedly spaced pins extending therefrom for receipt in the spaced apertures of the web. The pins travel along an endless path between the wheels spaced from the upper and lower surfaces of the copyboard, respectively. A guide and stripper member is provided on the sprocket drive for guiding the web from the pins to the copyboard surface and vice-versa while avoiding the tearing of the web material about the apertures. The guide and stripper member includes upper and lower central portions extending between the wheels for guiding the web along upper and lower planes passing through the base of the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1977
    Assignee: A. B. Dick Company
    Inventor: Carl L. Turner
  • Patent number: 4001495
    Abstract: An optical assembly for a stencil making device employed for scanning an original document to provide a light image of indicia thereon to a photomultiplier tube which converts the light image into electrical signals includes a housing taking the form of a block having at least one aperture or channel therein for receiving a lamp. A second channel extends at right angles from the first channel toward a predetermined wall of the block. The last-mentioned channel opens at the wall so that light from the lamp passes outwardly of the second channel onto the original document positioned adjacent the wall. A third channel extends into the block adjacent the second channel. A lens in the last-mentioned channel focuses reflected light images of the indicia through the third channel to the end of an optical fiber which carries the image to the photomultiplier tube. The dimension of the cross-sectional end of the optical fiber determines the scan area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1977
    Assignee: A. B. Dick Company
    Inventor: Julio G. Tauszig
  • Patent number: 3994426
    Abstract: A mechanism for driving a computer form web along a predetermined path includes a ratchet wheel having two sets of oppositely facing teeth, mounted on a support shaft for rotation. The wheel is driven in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. A drive gear in meshing engagement with a plurality of gears for driving the sprocket mechanism transporting the computer form web is also mounted on the support shaft for rotation. The gear is joined to a coupling plate also mounted on the support shaft for rotation thereon. The coupling plate includes first and second pawls which extend therefrom for cooperative engagement with the ratchet teeth sets, respectively. Pawl actuator arms also mounted on the coupling plate are movable to first and second positions and when in a first position engage the pawls to maintain the latter out of engagement with respective ratchet teeth sets. Pawl actuator arm engaging levers are mounted adjacent the pawl actuator arms and are movable to first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Assignee: A. B. Dick Company
    Inventors: George J. Zahradnik, Arthur A. Pudark
  • Patent number: 3972461
    Abstract: A guide chute arrangement for an apparatus used to feed a computer form printout web to the original document platen of a copying machine which includes a pivotally mounted copyboard overlying the platen over and about which the web is fed, includes an upper chute assembly for guiding the web between the upper surface of the copyboard and a first supply tray and a lower chute assembly for guiding the web between the lower surface of the copyboard and a second supply tray. Each of the chute assemblies includes complementarily, predeterminedly shaped upper and lower walls forming channels therebetween. The lower walls of the chute assemblies are fixedly mounted. The upper wall of the upper chute assembly is mounted for pivotal movement on extension arms which permit the movement of the upper wall away from the lower wall for easy threading of the web thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Assignee: A. B. Dick Company
    Inventors: George J. Zahradnik, Arthur A. Pudark, Carl L. Turner
  • Patent number: 3946910
    Abstract: A dry toner dispenser for use in an electrostatic or the like copying machine includes a hopper having a bottom opening from which dry toner particles are dispensed. A roll having a plurality of resilient fibers extending generally radially outwardly therefrom is mounted for rotation in the opening. A dispenser bar mounted outside of the hopper engages the resilient fibers of the roll. As the roll turns, the bar momentarily holds the fibers against the direction of rotation and then releases the fibers in a spring action to cause toner particles held between the fibers to be projected therefrom into the developer apparatus of the copying machine. A wheel rotatable in accordance with the operation of the copying machine drives a pivotal member which in turn rotates the dispenser roll incrementally. A manually positionable cam limits the movement of the pivotal member. An agitator included in the hopper is coupled to the drive roll for rotation therewith and maintains the toner particles in a loose condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: A. B. Dick Company
    Inventor: Brian J. Case