Patents by Inventor John N. MacLeod

John N. MacLeod 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: 4417195
    Abstract: The laminated stator core for an engine ignition system includes in addition to that ignition system an arrangement for charging the storage battery of an internal combustion engine powered device during engine operation with a charging coil surrounding one leg of the ignition stator core, a capacitor in parallel with the coil, and a rectifier coupled to the charging coil for conveying a varying unidirectional current to the battery. The ignition system may be of the type having a three legged E-shaped laminated stator core and a flywheel supported permanent magnet with charging coils being positioned on each of the outer E legs with diodes in series with each charging coil and means connecting the two coil-diode series circuits in parallel with one another and to the battery for providing a pair of sequential primary charging current pulses to the battery during each revolution of the flywheel. A fourth laminated stator core leg supporting a charging coil may be employed in some circumstances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: John N. MacLeod
  • Patent number: 4383214
    Abstract: The laminating stator core for an engine ignition system includes in addition to that ignition system an arrangement for charging the storage battery of an internal combustion engine powered device during engine operation with a charging coil surrounding one leg of the ignition stator core, a capacitor in parallel with the coil, and a rectifier coupled to the charging coil for conveying a varying unidirectional current to the battery. The ignition system may be of the type having a three legged E-shaped laminated stator core and a flywheel supported permanent magnet with charging coils being positioned on each of the outer E legs with diodes in series with each charging coil and means connecting the two coil-diode series circuits in parallel with one another and to the battery for providing a pair of sequential primary charging current pulses to the battery during each revolution of the flywheel. A fourth laminated stator core leg supporting a charging coil may be employed in some circumstances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: John N. MacLeod
  • Patent number: 4233950
    Abstract: In a capacitor-discharge breakerless ignition system for an internal combustion engine, a safety interlock comprising a rectifier and a switch responsive to a preselected unsafe vehicle condition is connected in the charge circuit of the ignition capacitor. The rectifier is poled in the forward capacitor charge-voltage direction and is connected with respect to the switch such that the capacitor is not charged or, once charged, is discharged prior to engine ignition in response to an unsafe condition indicated by the switch, or in response to intentional or accidental breakage and/or short-circuiting of interlock/ignition interconnection leads. The rectifier and the switch are packaged in such a manner, preferably separate from the rest of the ignition, to deter tampering with the switch alone, and to permit locating the switch and rectifier remote from the ignition circuit. In one preferred application the rectifier-switch package is mounted on the handle of a rotary lawn mower to serve as a deadman switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1980
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Krolski, John N. MacLeod