Patents Examined by Robert K. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 4175237
    Abstract: An electric starter for internal combustion engines has a drive pinion unit with gear teeth for engagement with a gear ring of the engine and is driven by an electric motor so as to rotate the engine. The motor has a rotating laminated armature and an armature shaft; the drive pinion unit is mounted on the shaft so as to be freely slidable and rotatable relative thereto, and splined drive means fixed to one end of the laminated armature engage splines on the drive pinion unit whereby to transmit drive to the latter. The drive means may take the form of an internally-splined sleeve co-operating with a tail portion of the drive pinion unit; the splines are preferably helicoidal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1979
    Inventor: Alfred B. Mazzorana
  • Patent number: 4160400
    Abstract: A touch responsive unit for a keyboard electronic musical instrument. A high frequency signal source is connected to one plate of a normally open circuited variable capacitor. The other plate of the variable capacitor being mechanically connected to a force transferring mechanism and electrically connected to a circuit means for generating a control voltage envelope. The depressive force applied to the key through the transfer mechanism causes the capacitor plates to overlap. The degree of area overlap is proportional to the depressive force and determines the capacitance value. As the plate area overlap increases, the capacitance value increases and the peak amplitude of the high frequency source passed by the capacitor increases. The control voltage envelope of the circuit means is applied to a standard keyer circuit to amplitude modulate a tone signal source corresponding to the selected key. The slope or decay rate of the control voltage envelope is regulated by the circuit means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1979
    Assignee: Marmon Company
    Inventor: Ray B. Schrecongost
  • Patent number: 4159427
    Abstract: This apparatus stores natural energies available on and/or under the surf of the world's oceans. Such energies include solar energy, wave energy, wind energy, as well as energy stored in the heat of the sea water. The energy extracting and storing equipment is installed on a floating vessel or raft. The energy storing equipment includes flywheel type rollers or cylinders driven by electric motors energized by electric generators which in turn receive their energy from the energy extracting equipment. The flywheel type rollers or cylinders include a supporting hollow cylinder having a relatively thin wall onto which there are wound fibers impregnated or embedded in a synthetic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1979
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventor: Hans O. Wiedemann
  • Patent number: 4158780
    Abstract: A power generation system for the generation of electrica power from wave motions of the sea comprising a spine on which a plurality of ducks are rockably mounted and for each duck a power generation assembly comprising a hydrostatic transmission having a pump operatively connected with a drive which is rotated back and forth by the rocking motion of the duck, caused by the wave motions of the sea and a variable displacement motor hydraulically coupled to the pump so as to be driven by the pump. The system further includes an electric generator operatively connected to the motor to be driven thereby so as to provide electrical power and a sensing means for sensing the force or velocity condition of the duck and for varying the motor displacement in accordance with such condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1979
    Inventor: Eric Wood
  • Patent number: 4157647
    Abstract: In an analogue electronic timepiece the hands are moved by a stepping motor driven by a time standard signal supplied from a generating circuit comprising a quartz oscillator. In order to amend the time in a reverse direction, for example to correct for a different time zone, means is provided for detecting the angular position of the rotor of the motor and for supplying current in the reverse direction to the coil of the motor when the rotor reaches a predetermined angular position so as to cause the motor to rotate in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1979
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha
    Inventors: Norio Takahashi, Teruo Ito
  • Patent number: 4156169
    Abstract: A sensor array produces two sinusoidal position signals which vary in phase by 90.degree. in response to rotation of a servo motor shaft. These position signals are inverted and the position signals and their inversions are commutated to produce a velocity signal. A position error signal is generated which indicates the difference between the actual motor shaft position and the command position. A reference signal is voltage divided in accordance with the position error signal to produce a velocity command signal which is compared with the velocity signal to produce a motor drive signal. The position signals and their inversions are half wave rectified, integrated and summed to produce the reference signal as a varying D. C. signal, the magnitude of which corresponds to the amplitude of the position signals and compensates for variations in said amplitude caused by high frequency attenuation in the sensor array and like phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoatsu Imamura
  • Patent number: 4155218
    Abstract: In an electronic watch, the content of the memory associated with the adjusting circuit of the division ratio of the frequency divider is modified at each correction of the display to compensate for the frequency error of the crystal oscillator and to thereby reduce the running error of the watch. Such electronic watches use a crystal oscillator whose frequency is not optimum. To compensate for the frequency variations due to manufacturing tolerances, age and temperature, correction circuits are incorporated into such watches. When an operator acts on a switch on the case of the watch to correct the time display indication, the content of the memory is modified to correct for the frequency error of the crystal oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Assignee: Ebauches S.A.
    Inventor: Fridolin Wiget
  • Patent number: 4156168
    Abstract: A direct current electric motor including a stator assembly having a stator core of magnetic material. The core has therethrough a generally cylindrical cavity and rotatably mounted therein is a cylindrical rotor assembly. Recesses are formed in the wall of the cavity, the recesses defining therebetween motor poles. Coil bobbins are provided, the bobbins being dimensioned to be slidably received in the recesses in positions bounding respective ones of the poles and each bobbin having wound thereon a selected plurality of turns of magnet wire. The length of the stator core and rotor assembly and the number of turns can be selectively varied to provide a motor of desired torque. The bobbins may be molded and provided with integrally formed end portions which close the recesses in the wall of the cavity and provide a cavity having a smooth and continuous cylindrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Assignee: Tokheim Corporation
    Inventor: John D. Vogel
  • Patent number: 4155427
    Abstract: An elevator system including an elevator car, a drive motor for the elevator car, a power supply for the drive motor which includes a three-phase source of alternating potential, and a monitor for the three-phase source. The monitor discriminates between a malfunction of the three-phase source which should initiate shutdown of the elevator system, and a momentary disturbance which should be ignored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: William R. Caputo, John J. De Lorenzi
  • Patent number: 4154054
    Abstract: A toy timing device including an escapement-like mechanism regulating the movement of a movable portion toward a position on a housing toward which it is biased by the alternate slipping and sticking of parts of a rubber band extending over ribs on the movable portion as the rubber band parts move along a continuous surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1979
    Assignee: Custom Concepts, Incorporated
    Inventor: James F. Kubiatowicz
  • Patent number: 4154053
    Abstract: An internal correction circuit is provided to correct the timepiece error caused by the crystal oscillator frequency changes. The timepiece operates by frequency dividing the oscillator frequency to obtain a predetermined operating frequency. The correction circuit is operated by the user on any initialization point, such as the start of any minute from a reference time source to generate a first input signal. The user at any following minute of the reference time source generates a second input signal.The correction circuit counts a first and second number of time units of different lengths between the first and second input signals. The circuit then forms a division ratio from the first and second numbers. That ratio is used to change the frequency divider division ratio to adjust the watch for the crystal frequency error just calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1979
    Assignee: Ebauches S.A.
    Inventors: Fernand Chetelat, Daniel Rochat
  • Patent number: 4152887
    Abstract: A digital alarm timepiece comprising an oscillator circuit for generating a standard time signal, a frequency dividing circuit, time counting circuits for counting output signals of the dividing circuit to provide a time signal, alarm time memory counting circuits for setting a selected alarm time, display means for selectively displaying the time signal and the set alarm time, alarm sound generating means and a coincidence circuit for activating the alarm sound generating means upon occurrence of coincidence between the set time of the alarm and the time signal has circuit means including manually operable switch means for amending the count of the time counting ciruits, to correct the time signal and for amending the count of the alarm time memory counting circuits to set a selected alarm time and means for activating the alarm sound generating means whenever the switch means is operated to amend the count of one or another of the counting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha
    Inventor: Takuro Fukuichi
  • Patent number: 4151426
    Abstract: A solid state timer device useable for security purposes in homes, offices and other buildings. The device is engineered to plug into a conventional wall socket and to receive the inlet plugs of appliances such as lamps and radios. The device is programmed to connect intermittently, in the desired sequence and for desired periods, power from the wall plug to the electrical appliance in question so that the same will go on and off automatically over a period of time and then will remain off for another period of time before resuming the said subsequence of operation. Such switching of lamps and radios on and off, for example, will create the illusion of occupancy and is intended to discourage would-be burglars and prowlers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: Beehive International
    Inventor: Edward G. Price
  • Patent number: 4151424
    Abstract: Improved apparatus for withdrawing useful energy from a fluent medium, the apparatus comprising supports with tension members spanning the distance between them, foils distributed along the tension member spans, and circular members capable of rotating freely with the tension members, power being taken off the apparatus through fewer than all of the circular members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Inventor: David Z. Bailey
  • Patent number: 4151423
    Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic electric generator for the direct energy conversion of the kinetic energy of saline water flowing through a magnetic field, preferably in the constricted part of a duct. Means may be provided to increase the kinetic energy of the flowing saline water using wave-powered air compressors and/or water pumps. Also described are sea platforms containing a multitude of electricity generators in a configuration to maximize the conversion of the kinetic energy of flowing saline water into electric energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Inventor: Frank J. Hendel
  • Patent number: 4151450
    Abstract: A protective means for a feeder of machinery having means for transmitting control signal formed from the differential between a predetermined revolution speed and an actual revolution speed of a DC-motor for driving the feeder, and a means to control current in the DC-motor according to said control signal, thereby protecting the motor against excessive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Fukuma, Yoshito Kato, Kouji Nogami
  • Patent number: 4150535
    Abstract: An electronic time piece system is comprised of storing means for storing keeping time data and including counter means responsive to timing signals supplied from a synthesizer, circuit means for setting keeping time data in the storing means, and display means for displaying the keeping time data. The electronic time piece system may be coupled with an option system by which the storing means is supplied with additional data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Company Limited
    Inventors: Shigeru Morokawa, Fukuo Sekiya, Yukio Hashimoto
  • Patent number: RE30161
    Abstract: A transducer coupled to a motor shaft provides both position and velocity information for use in a closed loop control system. The transducer includes a disk with deposited metallic parallel conductors each conductor carrying current in a direction opposite to the adjacent conductor. Relative movement of one disk with respect to another produces a position signal in a manner well known in the art. However, multiple windings are used to provide multiple position signals displaced in space phase which are then processed by differentiation and commutation to provide a velocity signal used as a control voltage in the control loop. A reference signal is also derived by commutation from the position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Gabor
  • Patent number: RE30229
    Abstract: Modular operating centers for use in electric power generating plants and other industrial and commercial plants, processes and systems are constructed by using a novel prefabricated modular technique. This technique includes loading a plurality of transportable room-size building modules with control system equipment at a factory site. Typically, the control system equipment includes sophisticated and complex electrical and electronics data processing and control equipment. The control system equipment is installed and bolted down in the different building modules and the equipment in each module is inter-wired at the factory site. Temporary inter-module connections are established between the control system equipment in different ones of the building modules and such equipment, as a whole, is then thoroughly tested and adjusted under simulated use conditions. Thereafter, the loaded and tested building modules are separated and separately transported to the industrial or commercial installation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1980
    Assignee: Robert L. Ziegelman
    Inventors: Paul A. Berman, Theodore C. Giras, Roy E. Crews, Robert L. Ziegelman
  • Patent number: RE30280
    Abstract: Modular operating centers for use in electric power generating plants and other industrial and commercial plants, processes and systems are constructed by using a novel prefabricated modular technique. This technique includes loading a plurality of transportable room-size building modules with control system equipment at a factory site. Typically, the control system equipment includes sophisticated and complex electrical and electronics data processing and control equipment. The control system equipment is installed and bolted down in the different building modules and the equipment in each module is inter-wired at the factory site. Temporary inter-module connections are established between the control system equipment in different ones of the building modules and such equipment, as a whole, is then thoroughly tested and adjusted under simulated use conditions. Thereafter, the loaded and tested building modules are separated and separately transported to the industrial or commercial installation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Paul A. Berman, Theodore C. Giras, Roy E. Crews