Patents Examined by Virna Liss Mojica
  • Patent number: 5884213
    Abstract: A system for controlling the navigation of a fishing boat between waypoints representing successive positions around a navigation route. The system includes an input device for setting the waypoint positions, a position detector to detect the actual position of the fishing boat, a trolling motor to produce a thrust to propel the fishing boat, a steering motor to control the direction of the thrust, and a heading detector to detect the actual heading of the fishing boat. The system also includes a control circuit which determines a desired heading using a desired waypoint and the actual position of the fishing boat, and generates a steering control signal applied to the steering motor to steer the fishing boat from the actual position to the desired waypoint. The system operates in various modes which allow repeated navigation of the fishing boat around a navigation route. The system provides for automatic waypoint storage as the fishing boat is maneuvered around a navigation route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Johnson Worldwide Asociates, Inc.
    Inventor: Ben Anthony Carlson
  • Patent number: 5098042
    Abstract: A system for maintaining in a folded position a set of elements that are hinged to one another and to a structure (e.g. solar panels on a spacecraft), which elements are capable of occupying either said folded position in which said elements form a stack, or else a deployed position in which said elements are in end-to-end alignment, said system comprising:a retaining member passing through said elements in the folded positive and connected by a first one of its ends to said structure and bearing via a second one of its ends against the outermost element of said set;locking means for locking said retaining member in the folded position of said elements; andcontrol means for unlocking said locking means and releasing said retaining member, thereby enabling said set of elements to pass from the folded position to the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme dite: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventor: Daniel Viale
  • Patent number: 4940002
    Abstract: A railway locomotive truck provides improved mountings and/or configurations for traction motor axle support bearings to improve their wear life. These include tilting, or sloping, of the support bearing bores to more closely match the orientations of the bearing journal surfaces on the axles which slope as a result of bending of the axles under the weight of the locomotive. An added feature is forming the bearing bores with a slight conicity to accommodate slight tilting of the traction motor under heavy loads due to taking up of the clearances in the motor support axle bearings. Other features include various ways of mountings or altering the construction of the axle bearings to provide the desired positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Paul R. Bien
  • Patent number: 4898099
    Abstract: A positive retraction trolley stop mechanism is provided for a power and free conveyor system having a trolley member driven along a track. A depending trolley dog, engaged by drive dogs on a drive mechanism to push the trolley along the track, is movable between upper and lower positions for disengagement and engagement with drive dogs. The stop mechanism includes a pivotal stop arm which is pivoted to an upper position to engage a trolley dog on a trolley to be stopped and supported there by a cam member which is pivoted by a piston and cylinder. The cam member is pivoted out from under the stop arm to release the stop arm to assume its lower non-braking position. A one way or lost motion link is connected between cranks on a cam shaft and a stop arm axle to positively pull the stop arm to its non-braking position. The lost motion link is connected to the cam crank by a link connector which slidably engages a slot in the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Mid-West Conveyor Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Gareth D. Summa