Patents by Inventor Jean-Francois Couvreur

Jean-Francois Couvreur 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: 5366262
    Abstract: A quick connect fitting for connecting a plastic or metallic tube (42) in a fluid circuit includes a fitting body (20) having an interior cavity (22) opening to the exterior of the body (20) via a generally circular port (36). A peripheral step (48) is located in the port (36) and an O-ring (50) is abutted against the step (48). A washer (52) is located in the port (36) and has a central opening (54) slightly larger than the outer dimension of the plastic or metallic tube (42). A peripheral flange (56) is disposed on the washer is directed away from the O-ring (50). A retaining ring (62) is disposed in the port (36) and nominally abuts the flange (56). The retaining ring (62) has a central opening (64) substantially greater than the outer dimension with a plurality of resilient, radially inwardly directed, angularly spaced fingers (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Furnas Electric Co.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Couvreur
  • Patent number: 5139051
    Abstract: Start up difficulties in gas compression systems due to undersized motors and/or low voltage conditions are avoided in a system including an electrically operated compressor (10, 36) including a compression chamber (34), a compressed gas reservoir (20) connected to the compression chamber (34) to receive gas therefrom, a pressure control switch (16) associated with the reservoir (20) and operable to control operation of the compressor (10, 36) in response to the pressure level of gas within the reservoir (20), and an unloader valve (42) connected to the compression chamber (34) and operable by the switch (16) by a valve construction including a valve body (50), an inlet (62) to the valve body (50) and in fluid communication with the compression chamber (34), and an outlet (68) from the valve body (50) to the ambient. A relatively large first passage (52) is located in the valve body (50) and extends between the inlet (62) and the outlet (68).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Furnas Electric Co.
    Inventors: Dennis Walstad, Jean-Francois Couvreur
  • Patent number: 4843361
    Abstract: A pole piece (14a) of the movable core (12) moves in an air gap (25a) between external (61) and internal (16) pole pieces. A pole flange (14b) of the same core (12) moves in an air gap (25b) between a portion (30b) of the external pole piece (61) and a magnetic lobe (36) which is in contact with this latter. A permanent return magnet (17) is disposed between the internal (16) and external (61) pole pieces. The magnet (17), the internal pole piece (16) andthe lobe (36) are maintained in a cage (60) of plastic material snap fastened by hooks (78, 80) on the external pole piece (61). Three cross pieces (75, 76, 77) connectingtwo longitudinal walls of the cage to each other, suitably separate the different magnetic components. The force of attraction of the magnet (17) prevents the pole pieces (16, 61) from leaving it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: La Telemecanique Electrique
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Couvreur, Jacques Olifant