Patents Examined by Raymond Barrera
  • Patent number: 6121864
    Abstract: An electrical switch includes a magnetically actuated switch (16), such as a reed switch, and a permanent magnet (10). A path defining arrangement (14) is mechanically coupled (by track follower 210) to the permanent magnet, for allowing the magnet to move in a defined path. A particular part of the path lies adjacent to a portion of the reed switch. The particular part (218) of the path is close enough to the reed switch to actuate the switch. Consequently, or whereby, the magnet, at a particular position along the path will cause the reed switch to assume one of first (open) and second (closed) states. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the magnet, when at the particular position along the path, causes a normally-open switch to close. An energy storage arrangement is coupled to at least the magnet, for urging the magnet toward one end (220) of the path. In the particular embodiment, the energy storage arrangement is coupled to the magnet by way of a track follower (210).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Ronald Edmund Tillmann
  • Patent number: 6118359
    Abstract: A polarized magnetic relay has a base body, an armature, an envelope that encompasses insulating material, a coil, a core and a bar-shaped permanent magnet. The base plane is defined by the bottom side of a base body. The armature is arranged between two contact springs that lie parallel to each other in a common plane. Two transverse terminal webs, which have their sheet metal plane extending parallel to the base plane, extend out of the envelope in the area of the rotational axis of the armature and these terminal webs are respectively connected with a fastening tab that has its sheet metal plane extending perpendicular to the base plane. The contact springs exhibit two spring arms and a connecting web, respectively, which has its sheet metal plane extending perpendicular to the base plane. The spring arms exhibit a contact making part and a part that is embedded in the envelope. The part that is embedded in the envelope emerges into the connecting web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Electromechanical Components & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Dittmann, Jens Heinrich, Heinz Stadler
  • Patent number: 6118360
    Abstract: A linear actuator includes a plurality of magnetic plates and a ferrite core with a conductive cover which are mounted on the actuator body to generate a permanent magnetic field. The linear actuator also includes a metal bobbin which has an outer surface and which is formed with an aperture that defines an inner surface for the bobbin. Further, the bobbin is formed with a gap which extends along its length and which intersects the bobbin from its inner to its outer surface. An insulating insert is placed in the gap. Finally, a winding is wrapped around the outer surface of the bobbin to form an electromagnetic coil, and the coil on the bobbin is slidingly mounted on the actuator to receive the ferrite core through the bobbin's aperture. Electrical current can then be selectively applied to the winding to interact with the permanent magnetic field and thereby cause reciprocating motion of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Systems, Machines, Automation Components Corporation
    Inventor: Edward A. Neff
  • Patent number: 6111487
    Abstract: The relay has, one after the other on an elongate, narrow base body, a magnetic system and a contact arrangement having at least one fixed contact carrier and at least one movable contact spring. The contact carriers are in this case each embedded by a middle section into the plastic of a base body in such a way that their connecting lugs lie in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the relay, while their contact-making end sections, which emerge on the upper side of the base body, lie in planes which are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the plane of the connecting lugs. This enables dimensionally accurate embedding of the contact carriers with good insulation with respect to the magnetic system and with easy processing from a sheet-metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Logistics AG
    Inventors: Ralf Hoffmann, Angelo Polese
  • Patent number: 6111491
    Abstract: A magnetic screw having a screw shaft of magnetic material having thread crests formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a magnetic nut fitted on the outer periphery of the screw shaft. The magnetic nut includes annular permanent magnets magnetized with magnetic poles of opposite polarities on opposed sides, and annular yokes disposed such that the annular yokes are magnetically coupled with the magnetic poles of the magnets. The inner peripheral surfaces of the yokes are provided with thread crests corresponding with the thread crests of the screw shaft with a minute gap G defined therebetween such that magnetic circuits are formed between the screw shaft and the magnets through the thread crests of the screw shaft. The magnets are magnetized on their inner and outer radial surfaces with magnetic poles of opposite polarities, and the yokes are fitted in the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignees: Koyo Machinery Industries Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Special Metals Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Furuse, deceased, Kazuto Kunihiro, Nobuyuki Kitai, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6111486
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having a trip unit includes a lock out assembly positioned adjacent the trip unit for controlling access thereto. The lock out assembly includes a base member, a cover member and a slide member received therebetween. The slide member is moveable between various positions for controlling access to settings for the various operating parameters of the circuit breaker as provided by the trip unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Fischer, Henry Richard Beck, Joseph Bell Humbert
  • Patent number: 6107902
    Abstract: A circuit breaker including a housing having a window, a line terminal and a load terminal, and a circuit trip assembly. The circuit trip assembly includes a rotatable cradle, a moveable armature latch and a pivotable trip support including a trip indicator. Upon the occurrence of a tripping condition in the circuit breaker, the trip indicator moves from a first position where it is not visible through the window to a second position where it is visible through the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhiqun Brenda Zhang, Anupam Gyaneshwardayal Tiwari, Kevin J. Fuhr, Roger N. Castonguay, Javier I. Larranaga, Raymond K. Seymour
  • Patent number: 6107903
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an electromagnetic relay with better isolation characteristics. The invention discloses an isolation wall and an isolation rib in an electromagnetic relay for separating a movable iron member from a movable contact member to provide better isolation characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumi Sako, Yoichi Nakanishi, Ryutaro Tsuchiya, Yuichi Kariya
  • Patent number: 6107906
    Abstract: A magnet array for mounting on an oil filter cartridge includes a pair of magnetic shunt end pieces. A plurality of magnets are aligned parallel to one another and extend between the magnetic shunt end pieces and contact internal faces of the magnetic shunt end pieces such that the magnetic shunt end pieces and the magnets are retained in a stable magnet array by the magnetic interaction between the magnetic shunt end pieces and the magnets. The magnetic shunt end pieces can be in a form of cylindrical end pieces such that a cylindrical magnet array is formed, can be in a form of triangular end pieces such that a triangular magnet array is formed, and can be in a form of rectangular end pieces such that a box-like magnet array is formed. Each of the triangular end pieces and the rectangular end pieces includes a concave mounting surface. A support bracket is provided for supporting the magnet array on an oil filter cartridge. Wires can be used to bind the magnetic shunt end pieces onto the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Joseph Caiozza
  • Patent number: 6100779
    Abstract: The deflection unit has a yoke ring mounted on, and secured to, a coil assembly comprising deflection coils carried on a support. The yoke ring (22) is secured using a flow process in which the coil assembly is rotated about a vertical axis and flowable adhesive, e.g. polyurethane resin, is directed at one end (28) of the yoke ring such that the adhesive (30) flows over its outer surface (24) to its other end, forming a protective coating, and onto an adjacent part (20) of the coil assembly. The adhesive flows also over a substantial portion of the inner surface (23) of the yoke ring in the gap between the yoke ring and the coil assembly providing extensive bonding (32) between the yoke ring and the coil assembly which reduces unwanted noise effects from the unit in subsequent operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen P. A. Luard, Robert Carr
  • Patent number: 6097272
    Abstract: A contactless switch (20) for actuating a system between an open circuit position and a closed circuit position is disclosed. The switch includes a housing (22) and a linear actuator (34) disposed within the housing. The switch also includes a linear-to-rotary motion assembly (30) disposed within the housing. The linear-to-rotary motion assembly is coupled to the linear actuator for producing a rotary motion of the linear-to-rotary motion assembly in response to a linear displacement of the linear-to-rotary motion assembly by the linear actuator. The switch also includes a plurality of Hall effect sensors (106) and magnets (80). The sensors are disposed within the housing and the magnets are disposed on the linear-to-rotary motion assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Korry Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Michael Grover, Mark J. Suryan
  • Patent number: 6094117
    Abstract: An electromagnetic switching device (2) with restricted guidance, in which the closure contacts do not come into contact when the break contact is welded or fixed. An elastically resilient transmission lever (10) is provided to establish the effective connection between the armature (8) and the contact support (12) extending at a distance from and parallel to the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Kloeckner-Moeller GmbH.
    Inventor: Klaus Dieter Nuerenberg
  • Patent number: 6094118
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator for an internal combustion engine includes upper and lower electromagnets each having first and second opposing sides. First and second spacers are provided. The first spacer is connected to the first sides of the electromagnets and the second spacer is connected to the second sides of the electromagnets such that the electromagnets are disposed between the spacers. The spacers are constructed and arranged with respect to the electromagnets to define a space between the electromagnets. An armature is mounted for movement in the space between the electromagnets. A stamped steel housing is connected to the first and second spacers. The housing is constructed and arranged to mount the actuator to a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis Bulgatz
  • Patent number: 6087915
    Abstract: A magic sphere having an equatorial gap, with a radial magnetic field in equatorial gap. The radial magnetic field can flow inward, toward the center of the magic sphere, or outward, away from the magic sphere. In a further embodiment, the magic sphere produces a periodically radial magnetic field. In another embodiment, a magic sphere with an azimuthally periodic radial magnetic field that flows in the outward direction periodically magnetizes a magnetically hard ring in the outward direction. Then, a magic sphere with an azimuthally periodic radial magnetic field that flows inwardly, periodically magnetizes the ring in the inward direction. The result is a permanent magnet that has a radial magnetic field, where the direction of the field periodically alternates from the inward to the outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Herbert A. Leupold
  • Patent number: 6084498
    Abstract: An improved magnetic decoupler with a magnetic field shape, strength and gradient optimized for releasing security tags, such as an antitheft device of the type described above. Due to the structure of the magnetic decoupler, it contains less ferrous material than prior art decouplers heretofore employed. Reduction in size of the magnetic decoupler, along with improved magnetic strength, derive from the magnet assembly including magnets arranged with orientations that increase axial magnetic field gradient by superposition of the magnetic fields of each magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Dexter Magnetic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Stelter, David Choit, Thomas J. Devaney
  • Patent number: 6084497
    Abstract: A compact magnet is disclosed for high field, superconducting magnets for use in magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The magnet has at least a first and a second group of coils with the or each coil in the first group having wound to provide a negative current density with respect to the other coils. The first group acts to enable the overall length of the magnet to be reduced while maintaining a homogenous field over a central region of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: The University of Queensland
    Inventors: Stuart Crozier, David Michael Doddrell
  • Patent number: 6084491
    Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, a variable magnetic reluctor structure comprng an iron yoke having two opposing "U"-shaped bodies, magnetic flux sources formed by portions of the yoke, a magnetic flux path, a working space and a reluctor space is provided. A reluctor member comprising diamagnetic disks is inserted within the reluctor space decreasing the magnetic permeability of the magnetic flux path to a value lesser than that of air (1.0). The iron disks increase permeability, while either a Type I or a Type II superconducting disk or a combination of iron disks interspersed between Type II superconducting disks decreases permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Herbert A. Leupold
  • Patent number: 6084496
    Abstract: In a method of magnetizing a material of a permanent magnet portion provided in a rotor for a permanent-magnet motor, the material of the permanent magnet portion is embedded inside the rotor body, while the permanent magnet material has anisotropy in a direction penetrating the permanent magnet portion in section, and then the rotor is incorporated in a magnetizing unit and held in a rotatable manner, and the permanent magnet material is magnetized by flowing a magnetizing current through windings under the condition that the rotor is rotatably held in the magnetizing unit. Thus, the permanent magnet material is completely magnetized in a normalized direction, and even if the rotor is shifted from the normalized position, the rotor is retained back to the normalized position by a magnetic torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Asano, Masayuki Shinto, Hiroshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 6081178
    Abstract: A superconductive magnet includes a cryogenic vessel enclosing superconductive coils, a thermal shield enclosing the cryogenic vessel, a vacuum enclosure enclosing the thermal shield, a tube suspension assembly having a plurality of tubes located between respective ones of the cryogenic vessel, thermal shield and vacuum enclosure and axially overlapped and interconnected with the cryogenic vessel, thermal shield and vacuum enclosure and the tubes forming bonded joints with one another, and a plurality of locking clip arrangements attached to and having portions at least partially overlapping the bonded joints of the tubes of the suspension assembly so as to reinforce and strengthen the bonded joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, John Arthur Urbahn
  • Patent number: 6078238
    Abstract: A bolt to be screwed-in into a lubricant-containing housing, including a magnet (4), a head portion (2) having rotation-transmitting surfaces, and a shank portion (3) extending from the head portion (2) and having an outer thread (31) and a recess (32) provided at a free end of the shank portion (3) for form-lockingly receiving the magnet (4) and having a depth (T) measured from the free end of the shank portion (3) and substantially corresponding to an axial width of the magnet (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Gerold