Patents by Inventor J. Thomas Schaffer

J. Thomas Schaffer 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: 5322571
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for cleaning liquid-carrying hoses, and the like. A suitable cleaning solvent is passed under pressure through the hose. The pressure of the solvent delivered to the hose is measured and used to control the pressure of compressed air mixed with the solvent to maintain a turbulent flow of a predetermined mix ratio for various solvent pressures. The turbulent solvent/compressed air mixture increases scrubbing of the hose to reduce the cleaning time and the quantity of solvent required to clean the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Plummer Design & Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond G. Plummer, Mike Kosmyna, Raymond J. Foley, J. Thomas Schaffer
  • Patent number: 5287867
    Abstract: This invention concerns a system for insuring and accurately controlling the turbulent flow of a pressurized mixture of a gas and a cleaning fluid for purging and cleaning ducts. The pressures of cleaning fluid and the gas are continuously sensed and transduced into electrical signals for controlling valves for the pressurized gas to maintain and insure its pressure at a predetermined amount relative to the pressure of said cleaning fluid, so that when the gas and fluid are mixed in a turbulator, turbulent flow is insured. The improvements of this circuit include a pressure sensor transducer for sensing the pressure of the input of the air to the turbulator and feeding it back to the main air pressure transducer for accurately maintaining a predetermined ratio between the gas and cleaning fluid pressures within less than about 1 psi in at least pressures of 150 psi. A pressure warning signal indicates when the gas and/or cleaning fluid pressure is too low to produce effective turbulent flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Plummer Design & Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond G. Plummer, Raymond J. Foley, J. Thomas Schaffer
  • Patent number: 4402030
    Abstract: An improved control circuit for protecting a high voltage DC electrostatic system from arcing by removing the high voltage from the electrostatic system under incipient arcing conditions. A signal having a voltage proportional to the instantaneous high voltage current in the electrostatic system is established. DC components and unwanted noise and unwanted AC components are removed from the signal to leave only signal components relating to the rate of change of the current in the high voltage system and information indicative of incipient arcing conditions. When the remaining signal exceeds a predetermined reference level, high voltage is removed from the electrostatic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Champion Spark Plug Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Moser, J. Thomas Schaffer, Richard Weinstein