Patents Examined by W. E. Duncanson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4855609
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a starter for starting an internal combustion engine which comprises:(a) a starter motor having a starter shaft;(b) a pinion gear splined to the starter shaft so as to be slidable along the starter shaft for connection and disconnection of the starter motor to the engine;(c) a shifting motor having a shifting shaft;(d) a sliding means helical splined to the shifting shaft for a reciprocal movement along the shifting shaft according to a rotational movement of the shifting shaft; and(e) a shift arm for transmitting the reciprocal movement of the sliding means to the pinion gear so as to move the latter for connection and disconnection of the starter motor and the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Mitsuba Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Eguchi, Motoaki Kuribara, Tugio Onodera, Koji Kobayashi, Ikuo Fujino, Hiroshi Hagiwara, Seiichi Ogino
  • Patent number: 4855610
    Abstract: In a starting electric motor comprising: a movable pinion cylinder slidably mounted on the extension of the output shaft of the motor, the movable pinion cylinder having the front end portion formed into a pinion part, the rear end portion formed into a clutch inner part of an overrunning clutch, and the middle portion formed into a slidably supporting surface held by a first bearing fitted in the front frame, the shaft extension being supported by the front frame through the movable pinion cylinder, the movable pinion cylinder is slidably and rotatably supported on the shaft extension by a second bearing fixedly fitted in an inner cylindrical wall which is extended in the movable pinion cylinder from the clutch inner part to the middle portion with a gap relatively large between the inner cylindrical wall and the shaft extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Morishita, Toshinori Tanaka, Shuzoo Isozumi
  • Patent number: 4852694
    Abstract: Elevator starting compensation for preventing bounding and dash-out phenomena of an elevator cage possibly occurring due to unbalanced torque produced by a difference in weight between the cage and a counter weight. Adjusting quantities utilized in the starting compensation are arithmetically determined by a microcomputer employed for the elevator control, the result of the arithmetic operation being are stored in an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory. The starting compensation is performed on the basis of the adjusting quantities stored in the memory. The adjustment is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Arabori, Hideaki Takahashi, Yoshio Sakai, Kenji Yoneda
  • Patent number: 4853552
    Abstract: A signal representing the electrical output power of a steam turbine-generator is fed back to a control system. A signal representing the boiler steam pressure is also fed to the control system. A control signal for controlling valves feeding steam to the steam turbine is gain controlled between one and zero in the presence of a negative rate of change of steam pressure less than a predetermined value. At other negative and all positive values of rate of change of steam pressure, the control signal is unaffected. In one embodiment, a linear relationship is employed for controlling the gain for increasingly negative values of the rate of change of steam pressure. At an extreme negative value, the gain is controlled to zero, whereby the a load reference signal remains unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jens Kure-Jensen, Bernd A. K. Westphal, Thane M. Drummond
  • Patent number: 4852695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an elevator control system and more particularly, to a control system which allows the users thereof to enter a request for the elevator directly from their respective office rooms or their respective suites in a building. A first embodiment comprises a single car elevator control system, a second embodiment comprises a multi-car elevator control system and a third embodiment comprises a private elevator control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Inventor: Morris Ostrowiecki
  • Patent number: 4852696
    Abstract: An elevator information device is disclosed. The elevator information device has displays located in each hall of a building, each of which can display the service state of the elevator (information on arrival of a car, number of passengers in the car, floors at which the car is about to stop, waiting time, position of the car) by means of pictures and characters, whereby waiting passengers can easily understand the condition of the elevator. As a result, the waiting passengers do not feed uncomfortable due to confusion, impatience or distrustfulness. Consequently, the waiting passengers can be guided smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Fukuda, Kenji Yoneda, Takaaki Ueshima, Osamu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 4853553
    Abstract: A diesel-electric propulsion and operating system may be used alone or in combination with another power supply. It has particular application to a dual mode, trolley and diesel bus. The diesel engine is controlled to supply only that power demanded by the electrical systems, including the traction motor, and to operate on a fixed power curve. This provides an optimized efficiency. Other novel characteristics include a two-speed drive axle limited to the mode selector, a backup hydraulic motor and pump, a dual mode passenger compartment tester, and a diesel engine pretester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Inventor: Alan P. Hosie
  • Patent number: 4851704
    Abstract: This invention discloses a wave action electricity generation system that includes a floating platform that supports the system components on the surface of a body of water, an anchor means for controlling movement of the platform to a desired water surface area of the body of water, a kinetic energy converter that converts wave motion energy into mechanical energy and an electricity generator that converts the mechanical power transfer strokes into electrical energy. The kinetic energy converter includes a cylinder containing a fluid, such as a lubricant, in opposed cylinder chamber portions, a first heavily weighted piston that is slidably and freely disposed within the body of the cylinder. The heavily weighted piston is slidably responsive to the wave motion energy of the body of water and is used to compress the fluid to produce respective compression power strokes in each of the cylinder chamber portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Inventor: Ernest P. Rubi
  • Patent number: 4851703
    Abstract: The power pack includes a permanent magnet d.c. motor energizable by a battery and having a rotatable shaft. The shaft is operable to rotate both (1) an alternator for producing a.c. voltage for use by electrical utilization devices and (2) a hydraulic pump for producing pressurized oil for use by hydraulic utilization devices. When a supply of hydraulic pressure is not required, a valve unloads the pump and causes substantially all of the load of the pump to be removed from the motor so as to enable substantially the entire capacity of the motor to be used to drive the alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Inventor: William A. Means
  • Patent number: 4849647
    Abstract: A floating water turbine for taking the kinetic energy from linear current flow and converting it into mechanical energy and subsequently into electrical energy. The turbine is constructed of a buoyant material to support itself on top of the water, thereby eliminating any drag from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Inventor: T. Curtis McKenzie
  • Patent number: 4849648
    Abstract: A system and method of selectively deployed and utilized compressed air energy storage satellite facilities within an electrical power grid network. The satellite facilities are independent of geological formations and provide means for increasing the load carrying capacity of an electrical power system without increasing the size of the baseload electrical power generation facility or of the power transmission lines. A portion of the compressed gas is circulated back through a compressor located in a gas flow circuit, causing turbulent flow in a series of tanks, thus slowing heat energy loss to the environment. A heat exchanger located in the circuit of gas flow cools the gas while it is being stored, thus reducing the work needed to compress a given mass of gas into the tanks. The system and method utilizes low cost electrical energy produced by a baseload facility during non-peak periods and converts such electricity into potential energy in the form of compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Columbia Energy Storage, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Longardner
  • Patent number: 4846311
    Abstract: An elevator system containing a group of elevator cars (1-4) and a group controller (32) having signal processing means (CPU) for controlling the dispatching of the cars from a main floor or lobby (L) in relation to different group parameters. During up-peak conditions, each car is dispatched from the main floor to an individual plurality of contiguous floors, defining a "sector" (SN). Sectors are contiguous, and the number of sectors may be less than the number of cars, and a floor can be assigned to more than one sector. Floors that constitute a sector assigned exclusively to a car are displayed on an indicator (SI) at the lobby. Cars are selected for assignment by grouping floors into sectors and appropriately selecting sectors, so that each elevator car handles more or less an equal predicted traffic volume during varying traffic conditions, resulting in the queue length and waiting time at the lobby being decreased, and the handling capacity of the elevator system increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Kandasamy Thangavelu
  • Patent number: 4846310
    Abstract: A signal transmission apparatus for an elevator in a multi-story building comprises a small number of signal lines which carry, in a time-shared fashion, hall call signal and hall call registration information for all floors. On each floor, one or more signal terminal means comprises one or more push buttons for entering hall calls and one or more indicator lamps for indicating that a hall call has been registered. A reference signal originates in a control unit and propagates through a ring counter with stages corresponding to each signal terminal means and each separate direction of travel, ascending or descending, supported therein. A signal indicating that a button on a given signal terminal means has been pushed is transmitted over a hall call signal line in synchronization with the reference signal to the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junichi Tanino
  • Patent number: 4844205
    Abstract: An elevator system stopping control generates the difference between the actual speed value and a set point speed value on the transition from an unregulated travel phase to the regulated arrival or braking phase and prevents that difference from becoming effective so that the travel comfort is not impaired and the stopping accuracy remains assured. For this purpose, a multiplication factor is formed from the actual speed value and an associated nominal speed value by means of a divider during the travel phase before the onset point of braking and stored during the arrival phase in a memory. Stored in a travel curve memory are travel-dependent set point speed values, which values are multiplied by the factor by means of a multiplier and conducted as set point signals to a motor speed regulating circuit during the arrival phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Klaus-Jurgen Klingbeil
  • Patent number: 4844204
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a procedure for modernizing the control system of a lift group, in which procedure the group control system coordinating the operation of the lifts is renovated and connected to the already existing lift-specific control system. As taught by the new procedure, for each lift is connected one matching computer between the new group control and the apparatus controlling the functions of the lift, and by the aid of which the lift-specific signals are transmitted to the control of the lift and to the group control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Kone Elevator GmbH
    Inventors: Seppo Ovaska, Ralf Ekholm
  • Patent number: 4843249
    Abstract: A system for generating electrical power from sea waves employs a multiplicity of turbine units, preferably disposed in a generally V-shaped array. By properly positioning them with respect to the surface of the water and the direction of wave front progression, and in some instances by providing means for diverting the course to water flow, the turbine wheels are caused to rotate so as to drive associated generators and thereby to produce electric power. A control subsystem automatically adjusts the vertical position of the turbine wheels to accommodate tidal variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Inventor: Jean L. Bussiere
  • Patent number: 4843250
    Abstract: A power generating apparatus including a watertight sealed buoyant vessel of cylindrical form having an external stabilizer for directing the vessel into the current. Internally, the vessel is provided with a supporting structure on the axial centerline for rotatably supporting the axle or pivot shaft of a lever arm having a weight at the end thereof, the weight being supported on a circumferential rail assembly adjacent the upper end of the vessel. The weight is freely rotatable in either direction thorugh 360 degrees. The lower end of the shaft is coupled to a piston type hydraulic pump, which draws fluid from a reservoir, and pressurizes the fluid into a two stage accumulator, the controllable flow therefrom actuating a hydraulic motor coupled to an electrical generator, Fluid from the hydraulic motor then returns to the reservoir for further usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: JSS Scientific Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Stupakis
  • Patent number: 4838385
    Abstract: In a method for coordinating elevator group traffic in a building with one or more change levels constituting an end station for elevator groups operating above and below the change level, and in order to reduce waiting times in tall buildings, the control of at least some of the elevator groups operating on opposite sides of the change level is subordinated to a centralized control algorithm which, depending on the traffic condition, alters the control parameters for the elevator groups in such manner that, when the main direction of traffic is upwards, in order to serve the passengers of the elevators arriving from one side of the change level, either the elevators operating on the other side are caused to arrive more quickly to the change level to minimize the waiting time for the passengers arriving from the opposite side, and/or the departures of the elevators which have stopped at the change level are retarded to allow the passengers arriving from the other side to get on board, and that when the main d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Kone Elevator GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Ekholm
  • Patent number: 4838384
    Abstract: Elevator system with multiple cars (1-4) and a group controller (32) having signal processing means (CPU) controlling car dispatching from the lobby (L). During peak conditions (up-peak, down-peak and noontime), each car is dispatched and assigned to hall call floors having a large predicted number of passengers waiting on priority basis, resulting in queue length and waiting time at the lobby and upper floors being decreased, and system handling capacity increased. Estimations of future traffic flow levels for the floors for five minute intervals are made using traffic levels measured during the past few time intervals on that day as real time predictors, using a linear exponential smoothing model, and traffic levels measured during similar time intervals on previous similar days as historic traffic predictors, using a single exponential smoothing model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Kandasamy Thangavelu
  • Patent number: 4836336
    Abstract: A floor call registering circuit for an elevator system includes a keyboard at each floor for inputting the destination floors. The call registering circuit at the main stopping location permits only travels to destination floors which are allocated to a certain group of destination floors. According to an alternate embodiment, the call registering circuit is provided either with a pulse generator or with a decade keyboard. If the keyboard at the main stopping location has keys for all the destination floors, a circuit is provided which frees the destination floor calls allocated to the certain group of destination floors and blocks the destination floor calls lying outside the certain group of destination floors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Joris Schroder