Patents by Inventor James N. Athans

James N. Athans 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: 5529112
    Abstract: A coolant shutoff valve is closed when a motor-operated temperature door is moved to full cold position to prevent heating of air due to radiation, conduction, convection, or leakage around the door. The motor moves the door to hot or cold limit positions and remains in a stall condition to maintain such positions. A motor control responsive to operator selected temperature moves the door to such limit positions. A shutoff circuit associated with the motor control senses whether a hot or cold mode is selected and detects from the motor current whether the motor is stalled. When the circuit determines both a cold mode and motor stall current an actuation signal is sent to the shutoff valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy A. King, James N. Athans, Wayne A. Madsen