Patents by Inventor David J. Ensor

David J. Ensor has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Acceleration controller for laundry machine motor
    Patent number: 5398298
    Abstract: A method of cyclically accelerating an electric motor particularly for use in a laundry machine. A desired speed, direction of rotation and acceleration time is set and power is applied to the motor in a series of incremental steps, each successive step corresponding to an increase in the level of power applied during the previous step. The steps are initially estimated to be sufficient to enable sufficient energy to be supplied to the motor for it to reach the desired speed in the desired acceleration time. The speed of the motor is monitored and the steps of accelerating the motor are repeated with the series of incremental steps adjusted to adjust the supply of energy to the motor dependant on the speed reached in the acceleration time of the previous cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Limited
    Inventor: David J. Ensor
  • Electronic controls for electric motors, laundry machines including such controls and motors and/or methods of operating said controls
    Patent number: 5341452
    Abstract: A method of cyclically accelerating an electric motor for example for use during an agitation cycle in a laundry machine. A desired speed, direction of rotation and acceleration time is set and power is applied to the motor in a series of incremental steps, each successive step corresponding to an increase in the level of power applied during the previous step. The steps are initially estimated to be sufficient to enable sufficient energy to be supplied to the motor for it to reach the desired speed in the acceleration time. The speed of the motor is monitored and the steps of accelerating the motor are repeated with the series of incremental steps adjusted to adjust the supply of energy to the motor dependant on the speed reached in the acceleration time of the previous cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Limited
    Inventor: David J. Ensor
  • Laundry machines and/or methods of controlling the same
    Patent number: 5271116
    Abstract: A method of providing a desired water level in a laundry machine by energising the motor of the machine intermittently to produce changes in velocity of the spin tub, agitator and a load of clothes in the spin tub.The changes in velocity are measured and from the measurements the mass of the load of clothes is determined. A desired volume of water necessary for an optimum wash of the load of clothes is then determined and this volume of water is admitted to the washing container of the laundry machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Limited
    Inventors: John Julian A. Williams, Frank W. Shacklock, David J. Ensor
  • Laudry machines and/or methods of controlling the same
    Patent number: 5208931
    Abstract: A method, control device and appartaus for providing a desired water level in a laundry machine (1) by energizing the motor (10) of the machine intermittently to produce changes in velocity of the spin tub (3), agitator (4) and a load of clothes in the spin tub. The changes in velocity are measured and from the measurements the mass of the load of clothes is determined. A desired volume of water necessary for an optimum wash of the load of clothes is then determined and this volume of water is admitted (17) to the washing container (2) of the laundry machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Limited
    Inventors: John Julian A. Williams, Frank W. Shacklock, David J. Ensor