Patents Examined by Robert L. Hoover
  • Patent number: 5083041
    Abstract: A safe and arm device with a thermomagnetic generator sharing a tubular sed shaft with a turbine. Weapon propellant exhaust gas enters the shaft and heats thermomagnets in the generator causing their magnetism to be produced and flux lines to flow from rotor to stator. The gas moves translationally through the shaft and into the turbine. The gas leaving the turbine rotationally is discharged into a radial exhaust tube. A plug in the tube must be removed to permit gas exhaust from the turbine. Only then can the turbine and connected generator rotate causing the thermomagnetically produced flux lines of the rotor to be cut by the stator resulting in an induced voltage out of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Lee R. Hardt, James E. Means
  • Patent number: 5081365
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle having an electric hybrid power system comprising a battery powered electric motor connected to drive the wheels of the vehicle and a combustion engine which may be releasably coupled mechanically to the electric motor. When so coupled the combustion engine may drive the vehicle and the electric motor may act as a generator to maintain a desired charge level in the batteries. In operation the power train is automatically controlled by a process controller to produce maximum fuel economy for the engine and to maintain the batteries at an acceptable charge level. Means are provided to apply the combined power of the electric motor and the combustion engine to the drive wheels for short duration peaking power. Means are also provided whereby the combustion engine may drive the electric motor to function as a generator and charge the batteries when the vehicle is stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Charles W. Bricher
  • Patent number: 5072129
    Abstract: A starter apparatus comprising an electric motor including an armature rotary shaft (35) made hollow so that power transmission mechanism (40) can be internally positioned and an armature core (36) mounted to the rotary shaft (35) and having in the periphery thereof a large number of slots (37) for winding therein an armature coil (38, 39). The armature coil of the electric motor (34) is composed by winding a single wave-winding coil (38) and a double wave-winding coil (39) in combination so that three coil conductor sections are positioned per one slot (37) for majority of the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 5066866
    Abstract: An electrical apparatus for use with a motor vehicle electrical system, which includes an engine-driven alternator, provides a switching circuit for switching the system between a normal-power state and a high-power state. In the normal-power state, the apparatus provides the nominal electrical power needed by the vehicle electrical system and battery. In the high-power state, the apparatus causes the engine-driven alternator to produce a higher voltage and a higher power output for external loads, while still providing the nominal electrical power for the vehicle electrical system and the vehicle battery. In the normal-power mode of operation, the vehicle voltage regulator sees the full voltage generated by the vehicle alternator. In the high-power mode of operation, the vehicle voltage regulator sees only a reduced portion of the full voltage generated by the vehicle alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Inventor: William M. Hallidy
  • Patent number: 5065039
    Abstract: A coaxial starter in which a motor armature rotary shaft, an axially slidable output rotary shaft having a pinion at its front end and a solenoid switch disposed behind the motor are arranged on a common aixs. A portion of an iron core of the solenoid switch is extended such that the iron core portion journals the armature rotary shaft and separates a space containing a brush and a commutator of the motor from an interior space of the solenoid switch, and that the iron core portion has mounted thereon, through an insulating material, a power source side stationary contact and a brush side stationary contact. Also disclosed is a core and contact terminal assembly for a solenoid switch, comprising a casing containing therein a coil with a bobbin, a plunger slidably inserted into a bush mounted within the bobbin and a disc-shaped core disposed at an axial end portion of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki K.K.
    Inventors: Shuzoo Isozumi, Keiichi Konishi
  • Patent number: 5059813
    Abstract: A solenoid switch for a coaxial engine starter comprises within a cylindrical case 31 a solenoid coil 33 wound around a hollow bobbin 34. The case supports stationary contact assemblies 42, 43 each composed of an electrical conductor 44 including a stationary contact element 45 and an electrically insulating member 46 disposed around the conductor so that the stationary contact element is within a cylindrical space 36 of the bobbin. A movable contact 39 is mounted on a plunger 37 which is magnetically actuatable by the solenoid coil for separably engaging with the stationary contact elements. The outer surface 50 of a tubular wall 47 of the bobbin is oval in cross-section so that thicker-wall portions 47a are defined between the inner and the outer surfaces 49, 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Shiroyama
  • Patent number: 5057696
    Abstract: A vertical windmill employing aerodynamic lift includes stators that form an omnidirectional diffuser and can rotate out of the wind to reduce the destructive tendencies in high winds. A braking mechanism included in the windmill uses rotation of the airfoils to reduce the lift caused by the wind and disengagement of the airfoils to reduce nearly all lift on the airfoils. Centrifugal force is used to activate the brake in high winds, both to slow the rotor speed and, in extreme winds, to stop the rotor. A motor is provided to drive the windmill to simplify controls and increase energy production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Wind Harvest Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert N. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5038049
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating electric power from wind includes a base, a pair of upstanding, generally parallel, spaced apart walls rotatably mounted on the base and defining an inlet end and an outlet end for wind, an electric power generator mounted on the base and having an input shaft, and a vertical axis cylindrical rotor having a plurality of wind driven vanes and mounted on the base between the walls, and having an output shaft coupled to rotate the input shafts. A curved inner modulator is rotatably mounted on the base inside said rotor and is selectively movable for controlling wind flow through the rotor. An inlet modulator is rotatably mounted on the base at the inlet end and is selectively movable for controlling wind flow to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Inventor: Shuichi Kato
  • Patent number: 5036213
    Abstract: The coaxial engine starter of the present invention comprises an electric motor having a rotary armature shaft and a yoke, a solenoid switch disposed behind the electric motor, an output rotary shaft disposed in front of the electric motor in an axially aligned relationship, and a planetary speed reduction gear disposed in front of and in axial alignment with the electric motor. The planetary speed reduction gear comprises a sun gear disposed on the motor armature shaft, a plurality of planetary gears disposed around the sun gear and an inner gear disposed around the planetary gears. The output rotary shaft has mounted thereon a pinion gear for engaging with an engine ring gear to be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuzoo Isozumi
  • Patent number: 5032736
    Abstract: A coaxial type starter device comprises, in axial alignment, an armature rotary shaft for a motor, a rotary output shaft with a pinion at its front end which is supported so as to be slidable in its axial direction, and an electromagnetic switch device attached to the rear end of the motor. Two windows are formed in the end wall of a rear bracket attached to the rear end of the yoke of the motor; two stationary contacts at the power source side and the brush side are arranged at the rear end portion of the motor and project inside of the electromagnetic switch device through the windows; an exciting coil is disposed in the electromagnetic switch device; and a cup-shaped plunger is slidably arranged in the electromagnetic switch device. A rod is axially movable with the plunger and supports movable contacts to be brought into engagement with the stationary contacts, and a cylindrical body is formed at the end wall of the rear bracket to surround the movable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuzoo Isozumi, Keiichi Konishi
  • Patent number: 5028805
    Abstract: In a starter device of a type having a tubular rotary output shaft is in alignment with the armature shaft of a d.c. motor, and a tubular pinion moving shaft which has a pinion to be meshed with the ring gear of an automobile engine at its one end and receives therein the rotary output shaft, is connectable to the armature shaft by means of an overrunning clutch, the rotary output shaft is a tubular shaft and a movable shaft is disposed in the tubular rotary output shaft so as to be movable in the axial direction in association with the tubular pinion moving shaft, wherein the movable shaft has a stopper which is brought into contact with an immovable part which does not move in at least the axial direction of the starter device when the movable shaft is moved by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki K.K.
    Inventor: Shuzoo Isozumi
  • Patent number: 5027000
    Abstract: A wave power generating system for generating electricity using natural wave power, includes wave energy converters for converting wave energy into air pressure, a constant air pressure tank for storing the air pressure from the wave energy converters to equalize the fluctuation of the air pressure, an air turbine stationarily driven by the equalized air pressure, and an electric generator for generating stable electricity using the rotating power of the air turbine. The wave energy converters are settled to the bottom of the sea and are sufficiently tall to function as wave dissipation facilities. The air pressure in the constant air pressure tank is automatically controlled toward a target value by a controller and the target value is calculated by the controller in accordance with measured values of wave amplitude and period and the current air pressure of the constant air pressure tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Takenaka Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Chino, Takashi Hara, Kenji Tamura, Yasuhide Nakakuki, Yasuyuki Nii, Zenya Soma, Kiyoshi Nishihara
  • Patent number: 4985637
    Abstract: A coaxial starter comprising an electric motor having an armature shaft which is a tubular shaft, an output rotary shaft slidable in the axial direction thereof extends at one end of the motor so that the torque of the armature shaft is transmitted to the output rotary shaft through a driving power transmission means. A pinion is provided on the output rotary shaft at the end of the coaxial starter. An electromagnetic switch provided at the other end of the motor has an actuator rod extending into the internal opening of the armature shaft through the opening of the wall of the motor so that the rod is moved in the axial direction of the motor at the time of electric energizing of the switch. This slides the output rotary shaft in the axial direction of the motor. The coaxial starter further comprises a bearing fitted in the opening of the wall and supporting the armature shaft and the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuzoo Isozumi