Patents Examined by R. Skudy
  • Patent number: 5543671
    Abstract: A terminal board for a dynamoelectric machine is mounted to an end-shield of the machine. The terminal board has securing means for fixing an electrical switch to the terminal board using a single conventional fastener. A second snap-in arrangement is provided in place of additional fastener. The terminal board includes an arm spaced from the fastener hole. The arm is spaced above a surface of the terminal board and defines a slit with the terminal board through which an ear of the switch extends. A finger extends down from a free end of the arm to define a stop which maintains the switch ear in the slot. The finger and the single fastener together fix the switch to the terminal board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Williams
  • Patent number: 5541464
    Abstract: A thermionic generator (10) has a heated metal heat tube (11) journaled through a set of star-shaped emitters (12) and a set of electrically insulative spacers (13). The generator also has a collector (23) positioned about the grouped emitters and spacers a selected distance from the emitters. A cooling jacket (33) is positioned about the collector for cooling the collector during operation. A pair of seals (29) electrically and hermetically seal the cooling jacket about the heat tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventors: Lonnie G. Johnson, Francis E. LeVert
  • Patent number: 5541463
    Abstract: A flux path and core loss reduction assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a magnetizable peripheral rotor section upon which armature windings are disposed, isolated from the rest of the assembly by a non-magnetizable core. The assembly also comprises a magnetizable inner stator section upon which armature windings are disposed, isolated from the rest of the assembly by a non-magnetizable enclosure. The assembly additionally comprises flux path reduction windings wound to reduce the magnetic flux paths created when the windings are electromagnetically activated by a current. The assembly further comprises a programmable control for varying the rotor speed by varying the switching rate of stator winding polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: EKO Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucian L. Ellzey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5541465
    Abstract: An electrostatic actuator according to the present invention includes a first member having a plurality of striped electrodes insulated from one another and arranged in a prescribed direction with a prescribed spacing between them, a second member having a plurality of striped electrodes insulated from one another and arranged in a prescribed direction with a prescribed spacing between them, and continuous-waveform polyphase AC power supplies applied to the electrodes of the first member and the electrodes of the second member, one or both of the first member and second member being moved by an electrostatic coulomb force between the first member and the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Toshiro Higuchi, Toshiki Niino
  • Patent number: 5541460
    Abstract: An apparatus for rotatably journaling a rotor of a spindle motor about a shaft comprising a plurality of annular ring multi-pole magnets, each ring comprised of a plurality of axially aligned magnets whose polarity is alternated along the radius of the ring. The annular ring multi-pole magnets are disposed on both the rotor and stator of a spindle motor in opposition in attraction mode, or a complete offset repulsion mode with like poles facing one another with an full offset, thereby forming a radially stable magnetic bearing for maintaining rotor displacement about a shaft in conjunction with a conventional axial pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Dunfield, Kamran Oveyssi, Gunter K. Heine
  • Patent number: 5539263
    Abstract: A direct current fan has a base, a stator assembly fixed to the base, a spindle extending from said the stator assembly, and a blade assembly rotatably mounted to the spindle. The stator assembly includes a central axle and a bobbin having electrically conductive winding formed over the central axle. Pole plates alternately extend from diametrically opposed upper and lower disks which are mounted to the respective upper and lower ends of the central axle. Each said pole plate has first and second circumferential sections located at different distances from the central axis. The blade assembly includes a cylindrical member having blades mounted thereto and a circular central recessed portion. A hub is formed in the center of the recessed portion for receiving a portion of the spindle. The hub has an aperture in its center and a plurality of tabs equally spaced around the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Inventor: Tzu-I Lee
  • Patent number: 5536988
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical compound stage microactuator assembly capable of motion along x, y, and z axes for positioning and scanning integrated electromechanical sensors and actuators is fabricated from submicron suspended single crystal silicon beams. The microactuator incorporates an interconnect system for mechanically supporting a central stage and for providing electrical connections to componants of the microactuator and to devices carried thereby. The microactuator is fabricated using a modified single crystal reactive etching and metallization process which incorporates an isolation process utilizing thermal oxidation of selected regions of the device to provide insulating segments which define conductive paths from external circuitry to the actuator components and to microelectronic devices such as gated field emitters carried by the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Z. Lisa Zhang, Noel C. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 5536987
    Abstract: An alternating current generator for a motor vehicle includes magnet type field cores, i.e., field cores with claw poles on which permanent magnets are interposed in the spaces between the claw poles, where the generator has a ratio of number of claw poles/outside diameter of the field core that allows generation of a large output current. The alternating current generator includes permanent magnets disposed in spaces between peripherally adjacent claws which reduce the magnetic flux leakage caused by the field coil occurring in the spaces. When a residual magnetic flux density higher than 0.25 tesla is applied in advance in a direction that reduces magnetic flux, a large output current is obtained when the above-noted ratio is in the range of from about 1.6.times.10.sup.-1 to 2.0.times.10.sup.-1 (1/mm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Hayashi, Atsushi Umeda, Shin Kusase
  • Patent number: 5534739
    Abstract: An electric machine includes an exciter part and an induction part disposed adjacent the exciter part. The exciter part and the induction part define an air gap there-between and are movable relative to one another thereby defining a direction of movement. The induction part includes teeth disposed adjacent one another and projecting in a direction toward the air gap. The teeth define grooves therebetween, each of the teeth having a tooth base and a tooth tip adjacent the air gap. In addition, each of a plurality of the teeth further includes a middle portion having two ends and a constant width defined in a direction along the air gap and perpendicular to the direction of movement; and a pair of tooth widening portions, each of the tooth widening portions having a free end and a transition end and being located at one of the two ends of the middle portion at the transition end thereof for forming one of the plurality of the teeth with the middle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Magnet-Motor Gesellschaft fur magnetmotorische Technik mbH
    Inventors: Gotz Heidelberg, Andreas Grundl, Peter Ehrhart
  • Patent number: 5534740
    Abstract: An electrostatic actuator incorporates a sensor for detecting both position and the state of distribution of charges and is efficiently driven in high-speed operation. A first member has a plurality of driving electrodes thereon, each having the shape of a strip, a second member is placed in contact with the first member, and a control means is provided for changing the voltages applied to the driving electrodes to produce relative movement of the first member and the second member. Detecting electrodes are arranged on the first member at predetermined phases, independently of the driving electrodes, and a detecting unit detects the position of the second member and the state of charges induced on the second member, through the detection of electric signals induced in the detecting electrodes by the charges distributed on the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Toshiro Higuchi
    Inventors: Toshiro Higuchi, Saku Egawa, Toshiki Niino, Katsuhide Natori, Fumio Tabata
  • Patent number: 5534737
    Abstract: A plurality of rotating bodies each consisting of an armature, a permanent magnet rotor, or the like are rotatably supported in parallel and rotary shafts thereof are gear-connected to each other so that they may be interlockingly rotatable. Between the mutually nearest positions between respective outer peripheries of the adjacent rotating bodies and inner wall surfaces of the relevant yoke on first- or second-, half rotation sides of the rotating bodies as viewed in the rotation direction, partitioning walls are disposed so as to block the passage of the magnetisms between the adjacent rotating bodies while, on the other hand, opening portions are secured on the other rotation sides thereof as viewed in the rotation direction so as not to block the passage of the magnetisms between the adjacent rotating bodies, whereby forces of magnetic attraction or repulsion act to promote the interlocking rotations of the rotating bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventor: Masayuki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5534736
    Abstract: An electric vehicle comprising a body, an axle rotatably supported by the body, a rotor supported by the body for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a gearing assembly for selectively drivingly connecting the rotor to the axle, and a stator supported by the body. The stator includes a stator core which has a longitudinal opening housing the rotor and which has an outer surface. The outer surface includes upper and lower longitudinally extending recesses oppositely disposed relative to the axis. The stator also includes upper and lower cleats respectively mounted in the upper and lower recesses, the cleats and the longitudinal axis defining a common vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: J. Herbert Johnson
  • Patent number: 5532532
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed superconducting magnet motor includes a rotor separated from a stator by either a radial gap, an axial gap, or a combined axial and radial gap. Dual conically shaped stators are used in one embodiment to levitate a disc-shaped rotor made of superconducting material within a conduit for moving cryogenic fluid. As the rotor is caused to rotate when the field stator is energized, the fluid is pumped through the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. DeVault, Benjamin W. McConnell, Benjamin A. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5532535
    Abstract: An electric drive for a vehicle includes a motor housing; bearing plates closing opposite ends of the housing; roller bearings held in the bearing plates; an electric motor accommodated in the motor housing and including an axially hollow rotor shaft affixed to a rotor and journalling in the roller bearings; a gear housing adjoining the motor housing; a gearing accommodated in the gear housing; a gear coupling the rotor shaft with an input of the gearing; and a first output shaft coupled to an output of the gearing. The first output shaft extends through an end wall of the gear housing and passes axially through the rotor shaft and through the bearing plates. The first output shaft has an end situated externally of the motor housing. The electric drive further has a second output shaft coupled to an output of the gearing. The second output shaft extends through an end wall of the gear housing and has an end situated externally of the gear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Oltmanns
  • Patent number: 5530310
    Abstract: For a squirrel-cage rotor of an electric machine, having a cage that passes through the stack axially and is made of electrically well-conductive short-circuit rods that are connected by short-circuit rings at the ends projecting from the stack, oscillation problems that result during operation with frequency converters are intended to be solved. In addition, higher natural torsion frequencies are intended to be achieved on the rotor, that is, the construction is to be made less sensitive by simple modifications to the squirrel cage in order to prevent the resonance effects. This object is attained in that respectively two, three or more short-circuit rods are guided together to rod assemblies at their ends, and these are connected to the short-circuit rings with material-to-material bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignees: AEG Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Sauer, Heinz Boehm, Egbert Scharstein
  • Patent number: 5530308
    Abstract: An electrical stator coil for an electromagnetic pump includes a continuous conductor strip having first and second terminals at opposite ends thereof and an intermediate section disposed therebetween. The strip is configured in first and second coil halves, with the first coil half including a plurality of windings extending from the first terminal to the intermediate section, and the second coil half including a plurality of windings extending from the second terminal to the intermediate section. The first and second coil halves are disposed coaxially, and the first and second terminals are disposed radially inwardly therefrom with the intermediate section being disposed radially outwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan W. Fanning, Leslie R. Dahl
  • Patent number: 5530309
    Abstract: An improved homopolar machine in which a solid sliding current collector, or brush, is provided for contact with a flat, annular contact surface of a rotor. The flat plane of the contact surface is orthogonal to the rotor's axis of rotation. A plurality of such contact surfaces with corresponding brushes may be employed. Also, several means for actuating the brush into contact with the rotor contact surface are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventor: William F. Weldon
  • Patent number: 5530311
    Abstract: A face type commutator (10) includes a hat shaped member (12) and an insulator hub (14) with an armature axis of rotation (22). The hat shaped member (12) has a plate portion (24) with a brush contact surface (26) in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation (22) and a cylindrical portion (16) that extends axially from the brush contact surface and defines a cavity (46). The hub (14) fills the cavity (46) and slots (42) in the cylindrical portion (16). Grooves (70) divide the plate portion (24) into a plurality of collector segments (72). A cylindrical sealing surface (76) is formed on the cylindrical portion (16) and portions of the hub (14) below the grooves (70). Tangs (30) integral with the cylindrical portion (16) below the cylindrical sealing surface (76) each have a radially extending leg portion (32) and a foot portion (34) that extends circumferentially from both sides of the leg portion to hold armature coil wires (40) on the leg portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: McCord Winn Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Ziegler
  • Patent number: 5528097
    Abstract: A system for supporting a retaining ring on an end of body portion of a rotor in an electrodynamic system includes an end wedge which is adapted to be in contact with a retaining ring, a damper bar having a first surface which abuts the end wedge member and a second, oppositely facing surface; and a filler block positioned between the second surface of the damper bar and a field winding portion of a rotor. The filler block has a tapered surface which defines a stress-reducing gap between the field winding portion and the retaining ring, so as to minimize stress in the slot cell and field windings during high-speed rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Gardner, Robert L. Murphy, Albert C. Sismour, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5528095
    Abstract: A permanent magnet rotor for an electric motor has a shaft, a coupler mounted on the shaft, a flux ring fitted to the coupler and located within a ring magnet. The flux ring is a split ring having a nominal outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the magnet and is keyed to the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventor: Georg Strobl