Patents by Inventor Donald E. Nice

Donald E. Nice 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: 6343414
    Abstract: A snap-disk formation assembly and method provides feedback control of a snap-disk form station in communication with an exercise station and coupled to a feedback station. A disk blank is inserted into a pocket and loaded into a dial fixture which travels along a communication axis between the form station, the exercise station, and the feedback station. The pocket holds the metal disk while a snap-disk reset side and a trip side are formed and exercised. A feedback station determines actual snap forces for one or both sides of the disk and provides feedback control to the form station to bring successively formed disks within desired manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald E. Nice, Richard T. Kidwell
  • Patent number: 5524333
    Abstract: A pressure sensitive control device having a housing made up of a plurality of housing members, a diaphragm, a bistable snap-disc, a switch and an actuator. The snap-disc moves from one configuration to another upon application of pressure over a predetermined amount to drive the actuator which moves the switch from its normal operating position, which can be either closed or open, to a tripped position, which is opposite its normal operating position. Two adjacent housing members, which support the snap-disc and switch, respectively, are formed with cooperating spacers which allow the spacing of these housing members to be continuously varied over a small range of adjustment to allow the switch point of the control device to be adjusted after partial assembly of the control device. The diaphragm and some of the housing members may be subassembled for testing the components of the control device prior to complete assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Hogue, James P. Frank, Donald E. Nice
  • Patent number: 5300741
    Abstract: A pressure sensitive control device having a housing made up of a plurality of housing members, a diaphragm, a bistable snap-disc, a switch and an actuator. The snap-disc moves from one configuration to another upon application of pressure over a predetermined amount to drive the actuator which moves the switch from its normal operating position, which can be either closed or open, to a tripped position, which is opposite its normal operating position. Two adjacent housing members, which support the snap-disc and switch, respectively, are formed with cooperating spacers which allow the spacing of these housing members to be continuously varied over a small range of adjustment to allow the switch point of the control device to be adjusted after partial assembly of the control device. The diaphragm and some of the housing members may be subassembled for testing the components of the control device prior to complete assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Hogue, James P. Frank, Donald E. Nice
  • Patent number: 5198631
    Abstract: A pressure sensitive control device having a housing made up of a plurality of housing members, a diaphragm, a bistable snap-disc, a switch and an actuator. The snap-disc moves from one configuration to another upon application of pressure over a predetermined amount to drive the actuator which moves the switch from its normal operating position, which can be either closed or open, to a tripped position, which is opposite its normal operating position. Two adjacent housing members, which support the snap-disc and switch, respectively, are formed with cooperating spacers which allow the spacing of these housing members to be continuously varied over a small range of adjustment to allow the switch point of the control device to be adjusted after partial assembly of the control device. The diaphragm and some of the housing members may be subassembled for testing the components of the control device prior to complete assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Hogue, James P. Frank, Donald E. Nice