Patents by Inventor James L. Skinner

James L. Skinner 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).

  • Publication number: 20130343905
    Abstract: A pump motor assembly operable to provide driving power to a fluid pump includes a rotor, a stator, a case housing the rotor and the stator, and a control assembly mounted to the case and operable to control motor operation. The control assembly includes an information display and a cover overlying the display, with a window section in general alignment with the display. The control assembly also includes a filler plate underlying the window section to prevent any air gap along an underside thereof, allowing the display to be visible while reducing the risk of condensation buildup. The control assembly further includes a low voltage housing with the display disposed in a first compartment defined thereby, and a high voltage housing with a high voltage component disposed in a second compartment defined thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: NIDEC MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raymond D. Heilman, James P. Meagher, Jeffrey S. Sherman, James L. Skinner, John G. Schrader
  • Patent number: 8546984
    Abstract: A pump motor assembly operable to provide driving power to a fluid pump includes a rotor, a stator, a case housing the rotor and the stator, and a control assembly mounted to the case and operable to control motor operation. The control assembly includes an information display and a cover overlying the display, with a window section in general alignment with the display. The control assembly also includes a filler plate underlying the window section to prevent any air gap along an underside thereof, allowing the display to be visible while reducing the risk of condensation buildup. The control assembly further includes a low voltage housing with the display disposed in a first compartment defined thereby, and a high voltage housing with a high voltage component disposed in a second compartment defined thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond D. Heilman, James P. Meagher, Jeffrey S. Sherman, James L. Skinner, John G. Schrader
  • Patent number: 8508166
    Abstract: A controller includes a voltage determination module, a bus voltage command module, and a power factor correction (PFC) control module. The voltage determination module determines a desired direct current (DC) bus voltage for a DC bus electrically connected between a PFC module and an inverter power module that drives a compressor motor. The voltage determination module determines the desired DC bus voltage based on at least one of torque of the compressor motor, speed of the compressor motor, output power of the inverter power module, and drive input power. The bus voltage command module determines a commanded bus voltage based on the desired DC bus voltage. The PFC control module controls the PFC module to create a voltage on the DC bus that is based on the commanded bus voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, James L. Skinner, Charles E. Green, John P. Powers
  • Patent number: 8358098
    Abstract: A first rectifier diode is electrically connected between a first input terminal where an alternating current (AC) power is received and a first output terminal where a direct current (DC) power is output. A second rectifier diode is electrically connected between the first input terminal and a second output terminal. The first and second rectifier diodes rectify first and second portions of the AC power into the DC power, respectively. When switching of a plurality of power factor correction (PFC) switches is enabled, the plurality of PFC switches increases a voltage of the DC power to greater than a peak voltage of the AC power. An inductor is electrically connected between a second input terminal and two of the plurality of PFC switches. When the switching is disabled, first and second bypass diodes provide a current path past the plurality of PFC switches and the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Skinner, Charles E. Green
  • Publication number: 20120104878
    Abstract: A pump motor assembly operable to provide driving power to a fluid pump includes a rotor, a stator, a case housing the rotor and the stator, and a control assembly mounted to the case and operable to control motor operation. The control assembly includes an information display and a cover overlying the display, with a window section in general alignment with the display. The control assembly also includes a filler plate underlying the window section to prevent any air gap along an underside thereof, allowing the display to be visible while reducing the risk of condensation buildup. The control assembly further includes a low voltage housing with the display disposed in a first compartment defined thereby, and a high voltage housing with a high voltage component disposed in a second compartment defined thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raymond D. Heilman, James P. Meagher, Jeffrey S. Sherman, James L. Skinner, John G. Schrader
  • Publication number: 20110031911
    Abstract: A controller includes a voltage determination module, a bus voltage command module, and a power factor correction (PFC) control module. The voltage determination module determines a desired direct current (DC) bus voltage for a DC bus electrically connected between a PFC module and an inverter power module that drives a compressor motor. The voltage determination module determines the desired DC bus voltage based on at least one of torque of the compressor motor, speed of the compressor motor, output power of the inverter power module, and drive input power. The bus voltage command module determines a commanded bus voltage based on the desired DC bus voltage. The PFC control module controls the PFC module to create a voltage on the DC bus that is based on the commanded bus voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, James L. Skinner, Charles E. Green, John P. Powers
  • Publication number: 20110032738
    Abstract: A first rectifier diode is electrically connected between a first input terminal where an alternating current (AC) power is received and a first output terminal where a direct current (DC) power is output. A second rectifier diode is electrically connected between the first input terminal and a second output terminal. The first and second rectifier diodes rectify first and second portions of the AC power into the DC power, respectively. When switching of a plurality of power factor correction (PFC) switches is enabled, the plurality of PFC switches increases a voltage of the DC power to greater than a peak voltage of the AC power. An inductor is electrically connected between a second input terminal and two of the plurality of PFC switches. When the switching is disabled, first and second bypass diodes provide a current path past the plurality of PFC switches and the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Skinner, Charles E. Green
  • Publication number: 20090288113
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more aspects, a consumer device obtains advertisement event data indicating a time when an advertisement is to be presented, and maintains the advertisement event data in a log. Advertisement data corresponding to the advertisement event data is presented at the indicated time if the advertisement event data corresponds to a subscriber group of which the consumer device is a member, otherwise the advertisement data is not presented. In accordance with one or more other aspects, program event data and advertisement event data are both obtained. Electronic program guide data is generated including both the program data and the advertisement event data, and is sent to one or more consumer devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: James L. Skinner
  • Patent number: 7312970
    Abstract: A motor drive for an electric machine includes a live line, a second line, and a ground line. A surge protector includes a first varistor and a gas discharge tube (GDT) that is non-conductive below a trigger voltage and that is conductive above the trigger voltage. The first varistor and the GDT are connected in series between one of the live line and the second line and the second line and the ground line. A second varistor is connected between the other of the live line and the second line and the second line and the ground line. When a voltage on the live line exceeds the trigger voltage, the first varistor, the second varistor and the GDT limit voltage output to the electric machine and deliver excess voltage to the ground line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: James L Skinner
  • Patent number: 7193388
    Abstract: A multi phase motor includes a switching array for interconnecting a power source to each phase. A current sensor senses current supplied from the power source via the switching array to the winding and a controller generates offset PWM signals for controlling the switching array to supply power to each of the phases of the winding. The offset timing allows the individual phase currents to be determined from a single current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: James L. Skinner, Charles E. B. Green
  • Patent number: 5877568
    Abstract: An improved rotor position sensing system for detecting the angular position of the rotor of a rotating machine with respect the stator of the machine that includes a shutter that is affixed to the rotor, a sensor board holder that is positioned within the stator such that it has known orientation with respect to the stator, and a sensor board including rotor position sensors that is positioned within the sensor board holder such that it has a known orientation with respect to the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Maes, Raymond D. Heilman, James L. Skinner, Steven P. Randall
  • Patent number: 5736823
    Abstract: Air handling apparatus (10) delivers a volume of air at a generally constant flow rate regardless of changes in the operating conditions of a system with which the apparatus is used. A blower (12) pushes air from one point to another. The blower is operated by a blower motor (14). A switch (16) controls application of power to the motor. Sensors (20) are used to sense the current drawn by the motor and the motor's operating speed. A flow controller (22) establishes a desired air flow rate to be provided by the blower. A processor (18) is responsive to the sensed current (I), motor speed (S), an input (C) from the flow controller, and constants (K1-K4) related to performance characteristics of the blower to determine a torque required by the motor to produce a predetermined air flow rate. The torque value is determined as a function of the combined motor speed input from the sensor and an input from the flow controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Craig J. Nordby, J. Stephen Thorn, James L. Skinner
  • Patent number: 5457375
    Abstract: A BPM or SRM electric motor (M) is supplied bus current. A PWM inverter (I) uses bus current to commutate the motor by Systematically energizing and de-energizing the motor's windings (W) with the current. The resultant bus current waveshape has characteristics that are a function of a commutation angle between a rotor (T) of the machine and its windings. The waveshape includes the effects of bus ripple or transients. A commutation controller (10) samples the waveshape during each commutation interval to obtain commutation angle information. The controller provides control inputs to an inverter (I) to control commutation angle in response to the sample information. Commutation angle control includes calculating a control variable (I.sub.curve) which is a function of commutation angle. This variable is comprised of sampled data values which are additively combined according to a prescribed formula and which provide a high degree of linearity over a wide range of commutation angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, J. Stephen Thorn, James L. Skinner
  • Patent number: 5420492
    Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine, for example, a brushless permanent magnet motor (M) has a plurality of stator windings (S) and a rotor (T) which rotates with respect to the windings. Apparatus (10) is provided for controlling winding commutation with respect to the rotor. A DC bus (14) supplies current to the windings. The current waveshape has characteristics which are a function of the commutation angle with respect to the windings. Current magnitude and waveshape are sensed by a sensing unit (22) and the sensed waveshape is sampled to obtain commutation information. An inverter (20) successively energizes and de-energizes the respective stator windings. A controller (26) obtains samples of the waveshape, and processes the information obtained by the sampling to control winding commutation. The controller controls the inverter operation to provide a commutation angle which optimizes motor performance and efficiency for a particular set of motor operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Pradeep K. Sood, james L. Skinner, Douglas M. Petty
  • Patent number: 5084074
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering water and light aromatic hydrocarbons from a wet gas stream, by contacting the wet gas stream with an absorbent for the water and light aromatic hydrocarbons in a contactor to absorb the water and light aromatic hydrocarbons and produce a water and light hydrocarbon laden absorbent stream and a dried gas stream. The water and light aromatic hydrocarbon laden absorbent stream is heated in a regenerator to produce a vaporous water and light aromatic hydrocarbon stream and a lean absorbent for recycle to the contactor. The vaporous water and light aromatic hydrocarbon stream is passed to a condenser where liquid water and liquid light aromatic hydrocarbons are recovered and where a light gas stream is recovered for use as a fuel gas for the regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Gary L. Beer, James L. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4913245
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling a wellbore in the earth from a location in a body of water wherein the drilling operation generates a substantial amount of a mixture of solid drilling cuttings, water, and at least one hydrocarbonaceous oil, wherein the water and oil are removed from the solid drilling cuttings so that the cuttings are put into a condition in which they can be disposed of in the body of water or elsewhere without adverse effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: James L. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4881473
    Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon containing sludges such as refinery waste streams, oil storage tank sludges and marine oil tanker ballast are treated by passing the sludges in a flow stream through an indirect dryer to vaporize liquids having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than about 700.degree. C. and to provide substantially dried solid particles discharged from the dryer. The dried particles, containing heavy hydrocarbons as a coating or as a part of the solids, are conducted to a combuster/oxidizer and exposed to a high velocity flow stream of oxygen containing gas, typically low pressure forced air, to burn the residual hydrocarbons in the solids and to reduce heavy metals and the like to oxides thereof. A sludge handling system includes a rotary disk type indirect dryer connected to a lift pipe type combustor/oxidizer for thorough exposure of the dried solids to an oxygen containing atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: James L. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4839022
    Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon containing sludges such as refinery waste streams, oil storage tank sludges and marine oil tanker ballast are treated by passing the sludges in a flow stream through an indirect dryer to vaporize liquids having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than about 700.degree. F. and to provide substantially dried solid particles discharged from the dryer. The dried particles, containing heavy hydrocarbons as a coating or as a part of the solids, are conducted to a combustor/oxidizer and exposed to a high velocity flow stream of oxygen containing gas, typically low pressure forced air, to burn the residual hydrocarbons in the solids and to reduce heavy metals and the like to oxides thereof. A sludge handling system includes a rotary disk type indirect dryer connected to a lift pipe type combustor/oxidizer for thorough exposure of the dried solids to an oxygen containing atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: James L. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4733557
    Abstract: The bubble point pressure, vapor pressure and liquid composition of hydrocarbon liquid flow streams is determined by causing the liquid flow stream to flow through a system having a plurality of eductors at selected various total pressure differentials across the eductors and measuring the pressure at the minimum pressure point or suction port of the eductors to obtain a reading of the vapor pressure. The system may comprise an array of three or more eductors arranged in parallel having flow regulating valves for controlling the flow rate and pressure drop across the eductors, respectively. The system may also comprise one eductor connected to a plurality of flow lines, each having flow control and/or shutoff valves arranged to provide for selective control of the flow rate and the resultant total pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Lloyd A. Baillie, James L. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4694901
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing solid particles which have settled out in a region of a wellbore which employs at least one pair of conduit means, one of said conduit means having nozzle means thereon, said conduit means being disposed in the region of settled particle and passing fluid through one conduit means and the nozzle means into region of settled particles to mix with same and recovering the mixture of fluid and particles from said region by way of the other conduit means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: James L. Skinner