Patents by Inventor David J. Vollmer

David J. Vollmer 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).

  • Patent number: 6695220
    Abstract: A powder spray system comprises a plurality of supply hoppers, a purge air supply, a manifold operably connected to each of the plurality of supply hoppers, and a spray gun. The manifold comprises a plurality of outlets. The spray gun is operable in a plurality of spraying configurations and a purging configuration. The spray gun is selectively, removably connected to at least one of the outlets when in one of the plurality of the spraying configurations and is removably connected to the purge air supply when in the purging configuration. A method of operating a powder spray system also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20020109018
    Abstract: A powder spray system comprises a plurality of supply hoppers, a purge air supply, a manifold operably connected to each of the plurality of supply hoppers, and a spray gun. The manifold comprises a plurality of outlets. The spray gun is operable in a plurality of spraying configurations and a purging configuration. The spray gun is selectively, removably connected to at least one of the outlets when in one of the plurality of the spraying configurations and is removably connected to the purge air supply when in the purging configuration. A method of operating a powder spray system also is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: David J. Vollmer
  • Patent number: 4736177
    Abstract: A solenoid actuator including a coil of electrically conductive wire, a yoke of magnetic material surrounding the coil, and a non-electrically and non-magnetically conductive material encapsulating the coil and yoke. A pair of terminals connected to the ends of the coil project outwardly beyond an exterior surface of the encapsulation. Any of a variety of electrical connection modules is adapted to receive the coil terminals and electrically connect them to standard electrical connectors projecting from the module. Different modules have different forms of standard electrical connectors, so that regardless of the type of connector available at the source of electric power, a suitable module can be connected to the encapsulated coil for cooperation with the power source connector. The body of each module is formed of resilient material so that when the module is tightly attached to the coil encapsulation, a seal is formed completely surrounding the coil terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: Automatic Switch Company
    Inventors: David J. Vollmer, James E. Greame
  • Patent number: 4683454
    Abstract: A solenoid actuator including a coil of electrically conductive wire, a yoke of magnetic material surrounding the coil, and a non-electrically and non-magnetically conductive material encapsulating the coil and yoke. A pair of terminals connected to the ends of the coil project outwardly beyond an exterior surface of the encapsulation. Any of a variety of electrical connection modules is adapted to receive the coil terminals and electrically connect them to standard electrical connectors projecting from the module. Different modules have different forms of standard electrical connectors, so that regardless of the type of connector available at the source of electric power, a suitable module can be connected to the encapsulated coil for cooperation with the power source connector. The body of each module is formed of resilient material so that when the module is tightly attached to the coil encapsulation, a seal is formed completely surrounding the coil terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Automatic Switch Company
    Inventors: David J. Vollmer, James E. Greame
  • Patent number: 4683453
    Abstract: A solenoid actuator including a coil of electrically conductive wire wound about an axis, an enclosure for the coil, a receptacle carried by the enclosure for accommodating a mounting member of a device to be controlled by the solenoid actuator, a slideway carried by the enclosure extending transverse to the coil axis, and a fastener movable within the slideway for latching and unlatching the enclosed coil to the device to be controlled. The coil enclosure is a plastic encapsulation, the receptacle is an opening in a surface of the encapsulation, and the slideway is a chamber within the encapsulation intersecting the recess. The mounting member, which may be secured to a core tube within which the movable armature of the solenoid actuator is located, has an annular slot, and the fastener is a clip formed of sheet metal having edges which slide into the slot to latch the enclosed coil to the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Automatic Switch Company
    Inventors: David J. Vollmer, James E. Greame
  • Patent number: 4679767
    Abstract: A solenoid arrangement including a coil of electrically conductive wire and a yoke of magnetic material surrounding the coil. The coil is completely encapsulated by a thermosetting resin, the resin being located between the coil and the yoke, and the yoke being encapsulated by a thermoplastic resin. Preferably, the thermosetting resin is an epoxy resin, and the thermoplastic resin is nylon. The yoke includes a side wall extending around the entire periphery of the coil, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the side, top, and bottom walls forming a box-like housing which substantially completely encloses the coil. A stationary armature extends from the top wall of the yoke into the center of the spool upon which the coil is wound, and a sleeve for accommodating a core tube extends from the bottom wall into the center of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Automatic Switch Company
    Inventors: David J. Vollmer, James E. Greame