Patents Examined by Nestor Ramirez
  • Patent number: 6707219
    Abstract: In the case of a small-sized motor of the present invention, a printed board to which an electric circuit including an electric element is attached is mounted on a case cover. The printed board has a soldering part to be connected to a member attached to an interior of the case cover for being connected to an electric power source supplied from an outside and a soldering part to be connected to a projection in a notch provided on an opening part side of the metal case to body-earth the electric circuit. In the soldering part for the body-earthing, at the time of assembling the motor, after fitting the case cover to the metal case opening part, a pair of electrodes are brought into contact from an outside of the metal case near the soldering part, to weld the soldering part by a principle of the electric resistance welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuo Matsushita, Hideo Tamura, Kenji Tsuyama
  • Patent number: 6703720
    Abstract: A wind powered generating device comprises a tube cluster, a collector assembly, and a turbine assembly. The collector assemblies utilize sails that can be rotated in the direction of the wind to direct wind down through an inlet tube to a central outlet tube. The central outlet tube is narrowed at a portion, and a turbine is mounted at this narrowed portion to take advantage of the venturi effect, which accelerates the air as it passes the turbine. This permits reliable and efficient operation in areas that were not formerly windy enough to be economically feasible. Alternative embodiments of the invention include mechanisms for dealing with violent weather conditions, a first of which allows excess wind to bleed off behind and between the sails, and a second which collapses and covers the sails with a protective sheath/sock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Ferraro
  • Patent number: 6700229
    Abstract: An electrical machine with at least a machine unit. The machine unit includes a stator, which includes a plurality of magnetic flux conductors and an electric conductor forming a winding extending in a substantially closed winding path through each magnetic flux conductor, and a movable element, which includes permanent magnet elements movable in a reciprocating movement in relation to the stator along a movement path. The winding path includes a first current carrying portion, which extends substantially in parallel with the movement path. Each magnetic flux conductor is arranged to form, together with one of the permanent magnet elements, a closed magnetic flux circuit extending around the current carrying portion. The magnetic flux conductors are arranged in an alternating order with respect to the direction of the magnetic flux in relation to the permanent magnet elements in the respective magnetic flux circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Chandur Sadarangani, Lars Gertmar, Waqas Arshad, Thomas Bäckström
  • Patent number: 6700355
    Abstract: When a transistor is turned ON, a predetermined voltage VCL is applied to a minus terminal of a voltage comparator through a C terminal. A predetermined voltage Vd (Vd>VCL) is applied to a plus terminal of the voltage comparator, and an output of the voltage comparator changes from a low level to a high level. Such change is detected by a trigger detection circuit so as to activate a timer circuit, and an output of the timer circuit transitions to the high level during a predetermined time. Thereby, a transistor is changed to an on-state, a reference voltage Vb of an adjustment voltage applied to a plus terminal of a voltage comparator is set generally to 0V, and a transistor is turned OFF, so as to temporarily suspend a power generation state of a vehicular generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tooru Aoyama, Koji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6696775
    Abstract: Apparatus for commutating turns of a stator coil for a helical coil launcher. An annular brush assembly includes an annular support and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed circumferentially about the annular support for contacting the stator coil. A projectile for a helical coil launcher is also disclosed having an armature coil and a body assembly containing at least one annular brush assembly for contacting a stator coil that is slidably engaged with the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventor: Thomas Engel
  • Patent number: 6683389
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle, such as a bus or delivery vehicle, includes batteries and a turbogenerator/motor connected through a double conversion control system. The batteries and the turbogenerator/motor are each connected to a DC bus through bi-directional power converters operating as customized bi-directional switching converters configured, under the control of a power controller, to provide an interface between the DC bus and the batteries and turbogenerator/motor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventor: Everett R. Geis
  • Patent number: 6680550
    Abstract: In a hermetic motor-driven compressor, a first gas passage is formed by a space between a linear section in a motor stator and a hermetic container, and a second gas passage in parallel with the first gas passage is formed by through holes in the motor stator. The through holes constituting the second gas passage are disposed outside of a circle inscribed in the linear section in the stator. The through hole is shaped like a bow, and an arch shape of the outer periphery thereof has a curvature larger than that of the outer circumference of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsunaga, Manabu Sakai, Takeshi Hashimoto, Hideyuki Kanzaki, Yoshihiko Wakasa, Tetsushi Funatsu
  • Patent number: 6680556
    Abstract: A brush holding apparatus for at least one carbon brush includes a support plate with at least one brush guide, a spring element constructed and arranged for urging a carbon brush having a longitudinal axis mounted in the brush guide in a direction towards a commutator or slip ring, and a retaining element constructed and arranged for retracting the carbon brush against a force exerted by the spring element or for releasing the brush. The retaining element is slidably supported by the base plate in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a carbon brush mounted in the brush guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Schunk Metall und Kunststoff GmbH
    Inventors: Bertram Menz, Matthias Domes
  • Patent number: 6677684
    Abstract: An engine/generator assembly having the generator secured to the bottom of an engine. The assembly includes an engine/generator mounting plate which operates as a base plate between the generator and engine or in an alternatively embodiment as an oil reservoir base mount. The adaptation of the engine/generator allowing a tractor trailer to abide by the recently implemented tractor trailer regulations that prevent idling of the truck engine for extended periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Gino W. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 6677691
    Abstract: A stage apparatus includes a table disposed above a base table so as to oppose to the base table, an X-axis-direction table support mechanism portion disposed between the base and the table for supporting the table in a state that the table is capable of moving in an X-axis-direction within a two-dimensional plane, a Y-axis-direction table support mechanism portion disposed between the base and the table for supporting the table in a state that the table is capable of moving in a Y-axis-direction within a two-dimensional plane, an X-axis-direction linear guide portion formed on an upper surface of the base and extending in the X-axis-direction, a Y-axis-direction linear guide portion formed on the upper surface of the base and extending in the Y-axis-direction, an X-axis direction movable member provided so as to move along the X-axis-direction linear guide portion and connected to the Y-axis-direction table support mechanism portion, a Y-axis-direction movable member provided so as to move along the Y-axis-d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Patent number: 6674190
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical generator comprises a magnetic ring on one side of a wheel, and an inductive coil on a shaft of the wheel corresponding to the magnetic ring, thus when rolling the wheel, the magnetic ring rotating with the wheel within the inductive coil, this rotation produces electricity, which then transferred by a pair of negative and positive wires to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Far Great Plastics Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ting-Hsing Chen
  • Patent number: 6674199
    Abstract: An electric motor that can be set up for operation in one of two modes including a first mode that utilizes a power cord to removably couple the electric motor to a power source, and a second mode that utilizes a line lead to permanently couple the electric motor to a power source. The electric motor includes a housing have an aperture, and a cover plate. The cover plate is attachable to the housing in a first orientation corresponding to the first mode in which the cover plate substantially covers the aperture and leaves an opening for the power cord, and a second orientation corresponding to the second mode in which the cover plate substantially covers the aperture and does not leave an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Norman Richard Long
  • Patent number: 6674198
    Abstract: An electric motor structure includes an electric motor having a housing and an endcap coupled to an end of the housing. The endcap includes a bearing pocket constructed and arranged to cover a bearing structure. The motor structure also includes a heat shield coupled directly to the motor so as to surround and cover the bearing pocket, with a portion of the heat shield being spaced from the bearing pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Alex Gubbels
  • Patent number: 6674200
    Abstract: Spindle motor that has high rotational precision and is manufacturable at low cost, and that can be applied even in miniature, low-profile recording-disk drives. The spindle motor includes a shaft having a cone portion, a conic-shaped cavity into which the cone portion is inserted, and only a single dynamic-pressure bearing, formed on the lateral face of the cone portion. The working fluid is oil, and the oil fills without interruption a clearance between the shaft's cone portion and the conical cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: NIDEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 6674203
    Abstract: In a stator of a vehicle rotary electric machine, a stator winding includes U-shaped conductor segments having a pair of straight portions disposed in a pair of slots spaced apart at a fixed pitch in layers. Each U-shaped conductor segment has a generally rectangular cross section and a width to fit the slot. The U-shaped conductor segments are formed of large size U-shaped conductor segments and small size U-shaped conductor segments, and each of the large size U-shaped conductor segments has a pair of straight portions disposed at radially opposite ends of the layers and have corners whose radius is larger than corners of the small size U-shaped conductor segments. Therefore, it is easy to form rounded corners at portions of the stator winding thereby to provide uniform insulation coating at surfaces of the stator winding exposed to foreign particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Kurahashi, Hiroshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 6674214
    Abstract: An electric axial flow machine includes an ironless disk-shaped rotor arranged on a machine shaft and having permanent magnets embedded in a fiber- or fabric-reinforced plastic, and, on both sides, next to the rotor, a stator, wherein the permanent magnets are each joined to the surrounding fiber- or fabric-reinforced plastic so that the permanent magnets and the machine shaft form a dimensionally stable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Perm Motor GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Knörzer, Herbert Von König
  • Patent number: 6674188
    Abstract: An alternator comprising an inner housing, an outer housing mounted over the inner housing and a plurality of o-rings positioned between the inner housing and the outer housing thereby creating a sealed flow chamber having a first plenum, an axial jacket, a second plenum, a first passageway interconnecting the first plenum and the axial jacket, a second passageway interconnecting the axial jacket and the second plenum, an inlet extending from the first plenum, and an outlet extending from the second plenum. The first and second plenums are disk shaped cavities extending diametrically across the alternator, and the axial jacket is an annular jacket extending around the alternator. The first passageway is located diametrically across from the inlet and the second passageway is located diametrically across from the first passageway. The outlet is located diametrically across from the second passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Yockey, Kevin Roy Harpenau, David William Linden, Tony Militello
  • Patent number: 6674210
    Abstract: When molding reinforced fiber layers of a creepage block which is in contact with a field winding in a rotor of a rotary electric machine, a layer containing organic fibers made from polybenzoimidazole, polyparaphenylenebenzobisoxazole, aromatic polyamide, polyarylate, and aromatic polyester is integrally molded on that side of the creepage block which is for contact with a field winding. The rotor thus formed stabilizes a slippage between the field winding and the creepage block caused by thermal expansion of the field winding in the rotor during the operation and thereby minimizes the amount of bending of a rotor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoyama, Kazuo Gotou, Hidehiro Ejima, Takashi Shibata
  • Patent number: 6674215
    Abstract: There is disclosed an acoustic wave apparatus, constructed in such a manner that a surface rotated in the range of 34° to 41° from a crystal Y axis around the crystal X axis of lithium tantalate is set as the surface of a substrate, a standardized electrode thickness (h/&lgr;) obtained by standardizing a thickness h of an electrode finger constituting at least a part of an interdigital transducer by a wavelength &lgr; of a surface acoustic wave is set to the range of 0.01 to 0.05, and a duty ratio (w/p) of the electrode finger decided based on a width w and an arraying cycle p of the electrode finger is set to the value ranging from 0.6 to just below 1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Yoshida, Shusou Wadaka, Koichiro Misu, Tsutomu Nagatsuka, Kouji Murai, Masatsune Yamaguchi, Kenya Hashimoto, Tatsuya Ohmori, Koji Ibata
  • Patent number: 6670732
    Abstract: A magnet type stepping motor which has (1) a stator with three-phase stator windings, and 6m pieces of stator main pole arranged side by side, where m is an integer and ≧1, the stator windings of one phase are wound around every two stator main poles among the 6m pieces of the stator main pole, wherein when the stator windings of one phase are excited with a direct current, m pieces of N pole and M pieces of S pole are formed alternately on the 6m pieces of stator main pole, and (2) a rotor of a cylindrical permanent magnet magnetized in the circumferential direction to form Z/2 pieces of N pole and Z/2 pieces of S pole alternately, where Z is the number of rotor poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Japan Servo Co.,Ltd.
    Inventor: Masafumi Sakamoto