Patents by Inventor James P. LeClaire
James P. LeClaire 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).
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Patent number: 7207365Abstract: A central tire inflation system for maintaining tire inflation on a vehicle having a torque transfer sleeve connected between an axle plug assembly and a stationary shaft on the rotary union assembly. A flexible conduit extends through the axle plug to the rotary union assembly and is used to provide air pressure to tires connected to the rotary union assembly. The torque transfer sleeve limits rotational torque on the flexible conduit. Primary and secondary seals are provided on the rotary union assembly as well. A vent chamber between the primary and secondary seals allows the release of air which exits the primary seal, which prevents pressure from entering the lubrication area of the rotary union assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Inventors: Christopher A. Nelson, James P. LeClaire
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Publication number: 20040238093Abstract: A central tire inflation system for maintaining tire inflation on a vehicle having a torque transfer sleeve connected between an axle plug assembly and a stationary shaft on the rotary union assembly. A flexible conduit extends through the axle plug to the rotary union assembly and is used to provide air pressure to tires connected to the rotary union assembly. The torque transfer sleeve limits rotational torque on the flexible conduit. Primary and secondary seals are provided on the rotary union assembly as well. A vent chamber between the primary and secondary seals allows the release of air which exits the primary seal, which prevents pressure from entering the lubrication area of the rotary union assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Christopher A. Nelson, James P. LeClaire
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Patent number: 6701857Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the down pressure exerted by an actuating device on a seed channel opener of a planting implement in order to maintain the seed channel opener at a predetermined depth. The method and apparatus includes a depth control device which senses the load on the depth control wheel of the planting implement and transmits a sensed load output to an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit includes a micro-controller which receives, monitors and analyzes the sensed load output and compares it to the predetermined depth value. When the micro-controller detects a change between the predetermined depth value and sensed output value, a signal is transmitted to a regulating control valve which adjusts the down pressure exerted by the actuating device on the seed channel opener to maintain the proper cutting depth.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2003Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Inventors: Lynn David Jensen, Chris Nelson, James P LeClaire
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Patent number: 6548929Abstract: An eddy current fan drive cooling system is operable in a vehicle having a sheave rotating at a speed related to an engine speed. A driving assembly of the cooling system is attached to the sheave. A plurality of poles are exposed around an outer perimeter of the driving assembly. A plurality of windings are wrapped around the poles. The windings are electrically connected to receive a driving signal to generate a magnetic field around the poles. A driven assembly carrying a cooling fan is provided around the driving assembly. The driven assembly includes a plurality of concentric rings arranged around the exposed poles of the driving assembly. An eddy current torque is produced in the rings in response to magnetic flux passing through the rings from the exposed poles due to the magnetic field around the poles.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Horton, Inc.Inventors: Christopher A. Nelson, Bradford K. Palmer, James P. LeClaire
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Publication number: 20020014804Abstract: An eddy current fan drive cooling system is operable in a vehicle having a sheave rotating at a speed related to an engine speed. A driving assembly of the cooling system is attached to the sheave. A plurality of poles are exposed around an outer perimeter of the driving assembly. A plurality of windings are wrapped around the poles. The windings are electrically connected to receive a driving signal to generate a magnetic field around the poles. A driven assembly carrying a cooling fan is provided around the driving assembly. The driven assembly includes a plurality of concentric rings arranged around the exposed poles of the driving assembly. An eddy current torque is produced in the rings in response to magnetic flux passing through the rings from the exposed poles due to the magnetic field around the poles.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2001Publication date: February 7, 2002Applicant: Horton, Inc.Inventors: Christopher A. Nelson, Bradford K. Palmer, James P. LeClaire
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Patent number: 6131681Abstract: The invention relates to a winterfront composed of a porous material which restricts cold ram air but provides a continuous and uniform air flow across the full frontal area of a vehicle's grill and to its cooling system. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a porous winterfront bound within a frame suitable for mounting to the grill of a vehicle. In a second embodiment, the winterfront of the present invention is a composite structure having inner and outer screen layers secured to a mountable frame and a porous fibrous web disposed in a pocket between the two screen layers.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1998Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Inventors: Chris Nelson, James P. LeClaire
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Patent number: 5897107Abstract: A roller bushing assembly (21d, 21e, 21f) designed to enable a low tolerance, frictional fit within an out-of-round or otherwise distorted support member (5, 9) includes a bushing member (29a, 216) having an outer surface (102) machined to provide various axially spaced, annular grooves (127-130, 132 and 242-250). Between or directly adjacent respective ones of the annular grooves (127-130, 132 and 242-250) are defined a plurality of axially spaced and radially extending ribs (113-122 and 232-240). The axial outermost ribs (113, 122 and 240) are preferably elongated relative to the remaining ribs (114-121 and 232-239) and have annularly chamfered portions (124, 125 and 252). The ribs (113-122 and 232-240) are adapted to shear upon mounting of the bushing member (29a, 216) within an out-of-round or otherwise distorted support. By providing the shearable ribs (113-122 and 232-240), the bushing assembly (21d, 21e, 21f) can be effectively mounted within a greater range of varying sized support members.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1997Date of Patent: April 27, 1999Assignee: Horton, Inc.Inventors: Dean Zierden, James P. LeClaire
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Patent number: 5586635Abstract: A rotational control apparatus (A) having a rotatable input (26 or 180) and output (26 or 180) with respective interface discs (106, 180). Three sets of two diametrically opposed pistons (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) are controllable to rotatably relate the interface discs (106, 180). The piston sets (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) include piston heads (76) with dissimilar diameters such that each of the sets of pistons (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) may apply a dissimilar torque for a given amount of air pressure. Each of the piston sets (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) may be actuated independently or in combination with each of the other sets of pistons (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) such that the interface discs (106, 180) may be rotatably related to each other with varying degrees of torque.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1995Date of Patent: December 24, 1996Assignee: Horton, Inc.Inventors: Chris Nelson, David R. Hennessy, James P. LeClaire
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Patent number: 5405254Abstract: A rotary fluid displacement apparatus (100) with an orbiting toothed ring member (30) is shown with an improved casing (60) and rolling support between the faces of the valve discs (46, 47) and the first and second fluid transfer elements (21, 35). Particularly, needle bearings (106, 112) are sandwiched between thrust washers (108,114) and then between the valve discs (46, 47) and the fluid transfer elements (21, 35), with one of the needle bearings (106) being piloted in an annular groove (110) formed in the annular plate (23) of the first fluid transfer element (21) and the other of the needle bearings (112) being piloted on the hub (35') of the second fluid transfer element (35). The casing (60) includes two pieces, i.e. a generally cylindrical portion (62) and an end cap (64).Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1994Date of Patent: April 11, 1995Assignee: Horton Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: David R. Hennessy, James P. LeClaire
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Patent number: 5242036Abstract: A torque and/or rotational control apparatus is disclosed in a preferred form of a brake (10) including a plurality of pairs of actuators (18) positioned on opposite sides of a friction disc (16) by spacers (120) having tear shaped cross sections. The pads (32) of the actuators (18) are removably held by a slideable locking pin (70) biased by a spring (80) into an aperture (68) of a backing plate (62) for the pad (32). A notch (64) formed in the pad (32) and the backing plate (62) is slideably received on a rail (66) axially extending from the housing (35) of the actuator (18) to prevent rotation about the locking pin (70). The friction disc (16) includes elongated and shortened fins (42, 43) upstanding between and equally circumferentially spaced intermediate first and second component discs (40, 41). The fins (42, 43) are free of circumferential interconnections to allow air to radially pass freely between the fins (42, 43).Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1991Date of Patent: September 7, 1993Assignee: Horton Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: David R. Hennessy, James P. LeClaire, James V. Radomski, Richard G. Christensen