Patents by Inventor Donald E. Merz

Donald E. Merz 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: 5915306
    Abstract: A mounting assembly secures a generator and facilitates attachment to a railroad railcar on the end of the railcar axle. The generator produces electricity from the axle of a railroad railcar while it is traveling on a railroad track. A generator is mounted with a generator bracket and a backing plate to an existing bearing adapter on the railcar. A drive hub engages axle bolts on the railcar axle. As the railcar axle turns, the drive hub turns and with the drive hub connected to a generator the generator subsequently rotates to supply electricity to the railcar. Different types of generators can be attached with the mounting assembly to the railcar. The mounting assembly allows generators to be mounted without modification to the existing railcar structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: MagneTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Phil Langhorst, Donald E. Merz, Paul F. O'Connor