Patents by Inventor Joseph G. Patten

Joseph G. Patten 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).

  • Low friction ferrofluid bearing arrangement
    Patent number: 4717266
    Abstract: A low friction bearing arrangement includes first and second poles of magnetically permeable material which define first and second pole surfaces which are spaced apart. The first and second poles also define first and second side surfaces, respectively, which are aligned. A quantity of ferrofluid, positioned intermediate the first and second pole surfaces and adjacent the first and second side surfaces, is held by means of a fringing magnetic flux between the first and second side surfaces at a level which extends beyond the side surfaces. A rotatable shaft of nonmagnetic material is supported on the quantity of ferrofluid and is held out of contact with the side surfaces thereby, such that the shaft may be freely rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward E. Hart, Jr., Joseph G. Patten