Patents Examined by William L. Feeney
  • Patent number: 4119862
    Abstract: An electric motor car wherein an electric motor for driving the car is energized by a fuel engine driven generator and a battery is connected in parallel with the motor to be float charged by the generator. Control apparatus is provided for always maintaining the output of the generator at a constant value irrespective of variations in the load and for supplying the varying component of the load from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1978
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Choichi Gocho
  • Patent number: 4119861
    Abstract: A starting apparatus for a gas turbine-generator mounted on an electric motor driven motorcar includes a gas turbine and an A.C. generator with A.C. output terminals coupled directly to the turbine. A rectifier with D.C. output terminals is connected to the A.C. output terminals of the A.C. generator. A battery device is connected to the D.C. output terminals of the rectifier. An inverter has D.C. input terminals connected to the floating battery device in parallel and A.C. output terminals from which an A.C. output is derived. A control circuit is connected to the inverter for controlling the speed of the motorcar. At least one A.C. motor energized by the A.C. output of the inverter for driving the motorcar is provided. A switching device connects the A.C. output terminals of the inverter to the A.C. output terminals of the A.C. generator when the gas turbine is started and connects the A.C. output terminals to the A.C. input terminals of the A.C. motor after the gas turbine is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1978
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Electric Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Choichi Gocho
  • Patent number: 4118608
    Abstract: An electric switch mounted within an enclosure having a hinged cover is manually operated from outside the enclosure by a handle mechanism secured to the enclosure. The cover is provided with a single aperture near the edge thereof remote from the cover hinges, with this aperture providing clearance for the operating handle and housing of the mechanism when the cover is closed and also providing clearance for a catch which holds the cover closed. A defeatable cover interlock prevents opening of the cover when the switch is closed, and a defeatable switch interlock prevents closing of the switch when the cover is open. The handle mechanism housing is provided with a front recess having a pivoted indicator member therein which is connected by a wire link to the cradle of the trip free contact operating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: I-T-E Imperial Corporation
    Inventors: Frank W. Kussy, Howard R. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 4118607
    Abstract: An electric switch mounted within an enclosure having a hinged cover is manually operated from outside the enclosure by a handle mechanism secured to the enclosure. The cover is provided with a single aperture near the edge thereof remote from the cover hinges, with this aperture providing clearance for the U-shaped operating handle of the mechanism when the cover is closed and also providing clearance for a catch which holds the cover closed. The mechanism also includes a defeatable cover interlock to prevent opening of the cover when the switch is closed, and a defeatable switch interlock to prevent closing of the switch when the cover is open. Each interlock comprises a flat member biased to an active position by a U-shaped wire spring, positioned for cooperation with different arms of the operating handle, and mounted for movement in planes perpendicular to the cover when the latter is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: I-T-E Imperial Corporation
    Inventor: Howard R. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 4117757
    Abstract: A rectangular waveform signal reproducing circuit for electronic musical instruments which is composed of a first charge-discharge circuit having a relatively small charge time constant and a relatively large discharge time constant for charging and discharging positive components of a monophonic signal, a second charge-discharge circuit having a relatively small charge time constant and a relatively large discharge time constant for charging and discharging negative components of the monophonic signal, first comparing means for comparing the monophonic signal with the output from the first charge-discharge ciruit to produce a first compared output representing that the level of the former is larger than that of the latter in the positive direction, second comparing means for comparing the monophonic signal with the output from the second charge-discharge circuit to produce a second compared output representing that the level of the former is larger than that of the latter in the negative direction, and a fli
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Akamatu
  • Patent number: 4117344
    Abstract: A vapor generator supplies vaporized motive fluid to a prime mover which drives a load. In the embodiment of this disclosure the primary load is the electrical load on an alternator. A sensor provides a continuous signal representative of the load. Responsive to this signal the flows of motive fluid and fuel and air to the vapor generator are modified. Additional modifications to the flows are made responsive to signals representing the temperature and pressure of the vapor leaving the vapor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1978
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leslie H. Boerstler, Walter V. Discenza, Jr., Mason D. Marvin, Theodore J. Ebersole
  • Patent number: 4116102
    Abstract: The present invention is an integrated circuit for an electronic musical instrument comprising: a plurality of frequency divider chains receiving a plurality of input signals for dividing the frequencies of the input signals one after another and corresponding to a plurality of series of adjacent notes which are chromatically arranged in turn in a twelve-tone of a musical scale, respectively; keyer-gates for switching on and off the input signals and output signals of the frequency dividers of the frequency divider chains respectively; and adding means for adding at least two output signals of the keyer-gates which correspond to the adjacent notes chromatically arranged to each other, so as to produce output tone signals therefrom, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1978
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Tsunoo, Namio Hirose, Takeji Kimura, Michihiro Inoue, Masaharu Sato
  • Patent number: 4115705
    Abstract: An electronic calculator with a power supply ON-OFF arrangement actuated by momentary-closure push-button switches which are part of the keyboard. A bistable latch circuit on the calculator chip is continuously powered by the battery, and is caused to flip to an ON condition by actuating an ON key, and this turns on a large, low-resistance transistor which is in series with the voltage supply line going to all of the other electronic circuitry on the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: David J. McElroy
  • Patent number: 4114495
    Abstract: A channel processor capable of assigning a key code provided by a key coder and representing making (or breaking) of a key switch to one of a plurality of channels for storage therein and subsequently detecting breaking (or making) of the same key switch on the side of the channel processor. The assignment of the key code is implemented by holding the key code provided by the key coder during a predetermined period of time, detecting whether conditions for the key code assignment have been satisfied or not in a former half of the holding period and, if such conditions have been satisfied, causing the key code to be stored in an empty channel of a main memory device in a latter half of the holding period. Detection of breaking of the made key switch (or vice versa) is made by once clearing a memory storing the assigned channels by means of a start code generated by the key coder and subsequently finding that a channel among the cleared channels is not stored in the memory again, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norio Tomisawa
  • Patent number: 4111092
    Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument a key touch signal is generated in response to the operation of a key, and a plurality of control signals having different waveforms are produced from the key touch signal.Different control signals are used for independently controlling at least two of a plurality of musical tone elements that determine the tone pitch, color and volume of the musical tone generated by the musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Adachi
  • Patent number: 4111090
    Abstract: A noise suppression circuit for digital tone generator in which a table of digitized data points are converted at a rate controlled by the fundamental frequency of the tone being generated. The suppression circuit determines the difference between each pair of successive data points and increments the prior data point in a succession of equal intermediate steps proportional to said difference. The data points together with the succession of incremented values between said data points are converted by a digital-to-analog converter at a converter rate equal to or greater than the maximum rate at which each data point is incremented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Assignee: Kawai Musical Instrument Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ralph Deutsch
  • Patent number: 4110629
    Abstract: This system consists primarily of cable means, having wires which connect with a key operated and hand held device, which will enable the user to start an automobile from inside of the home or office. The cable means is plugable into an area in the front of the engine compartment of the automobile, the wires being connected to the starter, the ignition system, etc. The system includes flexible cable means so as to control the throttle of the engine carburetor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Inventors: James D. Dotson, Annette Jones
  • Patent number: 4108035
    Abstract: The disclosure describes an improved digital oscillator for use in an electronic musical system capable of converting electrical tone signals into corresponding sound waves. The oscillator includes an adder, accumulator and multiplexer for selectively transmitting either a divisor number or increment number to the adder. The oscillator cyclically performs incrementing operations by using the increment number over a variable range established by the divisor number at the beginning of each cycle. When the modulus of the adder is exceeded, the adder generates a carry pulse and a remainder. The divisor is then added to the remainder before the incrementing operations begin again. A digital calculator automatically calculates the proper values of the increment and divisor numbers so that the carry pulses occur at a predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Inventor: Sydney A. Alonso
  • Patent number: 4107488
    Abstract: An electric switch mounted within an enclosure having a hinged cover is manually operated from outside the enclosure by a handle mechanism secured to the enclosure. The cover is provided with a single aperture near the edge thereof remote from the cover hinges, with this aperture providing clearance for the operating handle of the mechanism when the cover is closed and also providing clearance for a catch which holds the cover closed. The mechanism also includes a defeatable cover interlock to prevent opening of the cover when the switch is closed, and a defeatable switch interlock to prevent closing of the switch when the cover is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1978
    Assignee: Gould Inc.
    Inventors: Frank R. Keller, Frank W. Kussy, Bernard DiMarco, Michel M. Fenneteau
  • Patent number: 4104535
    Abstract: A hybrid power system comprising a pair of energy converters operating on a closed Rankine cycle, each energy converter having a vapor generator for vaporizing a high molecular weight working fluid in response to heat furnished from a burner associated with the generator, a turbo-generator responsive to vaporized working fluid for generating electrical power, a condenser responsive to the exhaust vapors from the turbo-generator for converting such vapors into a condensed liquid, and means for returning the condensed liquid to the vapor generator; sensors for sensing the electrical output of the turbo-generator of each converter; and a control system responsive to the sensors for controlling the burners in the converters so that each converter furnishes about half the electrical load on the system in normal operation thereof; one of the converters, termed the primary converter, operating with a working fluid having a higher boiling point than the working fluid in the other converter which is termed the seconda
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: Ormat Turbines (1965) Ltd.
    Inventor: Yehuda L. Bronicki
  • Patent number: 4104534
    Abstract: A starter motor control circuit for an engine includes an input circuit which is controlled by the ignition contact breaker of the engine, the capacitor charging each time the contact breaker opens and discharging relatively slowly when it is closed. The capacitor is connected by a complementary emitter follower transistor pair to a level detector circuit which produces an output when the voltage on the capacitor is between predetermined limits. At below a predetermined speed this output is a train of constant length pulses which control charging and discharging of a further capacitor. When the voltage on the capacitor is less than a predetermined minimum a regenerative switching circuit is operated to cut out the starter circuit. A feedback transistor maintains the capacitor discharged until the engine stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: Lucas Electrical Limited
    Inventors: William Frank Hill, John Peter Southgate
  • Patent number: 4102437
    Abstract: An elevator system including an elevator car mounted for movement in a structure to serve the floors therein, and a car position indicator for displaying the position of the car in the structure. The car position indicator displays the car position according to a first mode during normal system operation, and, in response to the car becoming disabled, it switches to a second display mode which more accurately indicates the position of the elevator car relative to the floors of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Alan F. Mandel
  • Patent number: 4101748
    Abstract: An improved modular, puffer-type circuit-interrupting unit is provided capable of its own independent support, and adaptable for use, either as a singular modular unit, or when used with a plurality of similar units, constituting a conjointly-acting group of serially related puffer-units suitable for the higher-voltage applications.The modular puffer-unit of the instant invention is capable of independent support, and is adaptable for very simple straight-line actuating movement, for not only causing contact separation, but also a simultaneous compression of the utilized gas to a pressurized state for gas ejection into the established arc for rapid arc extinction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Jeffry R. Meyer, Robert L. Hess
  • Patent number: 4101786
    Abstract: Apparatus, and a related method, for proportionately varying from a master unit the durations of irrigation at a plurality of valve stations controlled by a number of satellite units, and for transmitting over a single pair of wires control signals for starting a programmed sequence of valve operations at all of the satellites in a selected one of two groups of satellites, or for resetting all of the satellites to a "home" position. One disclosed embodiment includes adjustable timing circuitry in the master unit to generate a timing signal which is transmitted to the satellite units over a separate wire, and is utilized to vary the duty cycle of a station timing motor which measures the durations of irrigation. In an alternate embodiment, station timing at each satellite is measured by means of a digital pulse counter, and the irrigation times at all of the stations can be varied to the same degree by adjustment of a variable-frequency pulse generator at the master unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Assignee: Clemar Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Ruggles, Vinod Panday
  • Patent number: 4100427
    Abstract: A device is described for converting solar energy into electric power for a load, which device is provided with photocells and electric accumulators. Switching means are provided which at least during starting of the load connect this load to the output terminals of the array of photocells so that during starting the current through the load is determined by the current supplied by the photocells. The device makes efficient use of the available solar radiation, is of simple design and is reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Henri Durand, Geert Jan Naaijer