Patents by Inventor John D. West

John D. West 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: 5074053
    Abstract: A linear sensing device containing an electrically conductive reed strip which, in the presence of an external actuating horseshoe magnet, makes electrical contact to a resistive strip at the location of that magnet. The conductive reed strip is attached along one end to a supporting member, formed from a material with coefficient of thermal expansion similar to the reed strip, to prevent warping of the reed strip over a range of environmental temperatures. The sensing device is of a modular construction with elongate cap, to which the resistive strip is attached, and an elongate base, to which the reed strip support member is attached. The cap and base mate together to form an inner container which then slides into an outer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Inventor: John D. West
  • Patent number: 4807797
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding hollow elongated beams wherein the plates forming the beam are tack-welded together in proper relationship and all corners of the beam are simultaneously and continuously welded by moving a multiple head welding carriage along the length of the beam in order to minimize warpage and longitudinal deflection of the beam due to the welding heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: The Manitowoc Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. West
  • Patent number: 4550244
    Abstract: A submerged arc welding machine in which the edges of plates to be butt welded are supported on a channel fixed on a long rigid foundation beam. The plates are otherwise held on inverted caster wheel assemblies. A long rigid bridge spaced above the beam carries a track on which the arc welding apparatus carriage rides. The plate edge portions are held by vertically movable electromagnets, and the channel forms a magnetic shield so that the magnets do not affect the welding arc. Vertically movable rollers allow the plates to be positioned without interference from the channel. A copper backup bar in the channel has a groove that is filled with flux, and the bar is raised to hold the flux under the weld line. A shoe on the carriage lays flux in the groove when the carriage returns after a welding pass, and a vacuum pickup head cleans the groove for the shoe flux delivery. During the welding pass, the pickup head removes flux on opposite sides of the weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: The Manitowoc Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. West, James E. Trainor, James D. Karman
  • Patent number: 4477132
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprising a metal sleeve having a locking cap rotatably mounted on the sleeve to extend from a mating end, a generally cylindrical, insulating, terminal-locating block receivable as a close fit within the sleeve to locate terminals projecting from the mating end and a retention bush to retain the terminal-locating block in the sleeve. The block is bipartite, each part being generally hemicylindrical and being formed with terminal-receiving recesses at a mating end communicating with a cable-receiving recess at a rear end across which extends a cable-clamping rib, a drain wire-receiving passageway extending radially through the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Jessie L. Moser, John D. West
  • Patent number: 3954020
    Abstract: A rotational drive assembly including a pair of pinion gears journalled on idler shafts disposed laterally on either side of a drive shaft and meshing with the teeth of a drive gear and a ring gear. The drive shaft is universally journalled for rotation and for permitting a limited range of movement of the drive gear toward and away from the ring gear to substantially equalize tooth contact between the drive gear and each of the pinion gears as the drive shaft is rotated. A slotted bearing may be provided to preclude excess lateral movement of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1976
    Assignee: The Manitowoc Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. West, James G. Morrow, Sr.