Patents by Inventor Joseph R. Pottebaum

Joseph R. Pottebaum 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: 5256949
    Abstract: An AC power line current regeneration method and circuitry energizes an AC power line from a DC power source through pulse width modulated switch means. The method and circuitry involves sampling the required peak line regeneration current value from a previous PWM cycle, I(peak last), sampling line regeneration current value at turn-on of the switch means, I(turn-on), and calculating the required peak line regeneration current value for the present PWM cycle, I(peak present), from both I(peak last) and I(turn-on).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Thor Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Reichard, Joseph R. Pottebaum
  • Patent number: 4984981
    Abstract: A flame powered logic supply circuit (60) responds to a pilot flame (39b) and supplies electrical energy to power electronic logic circuitry (62) for a heater, such as a hot water heater (1), a furnace, or the like. A thermoelectric element (64) responds to the flame and outputs electrical current which is stored in an inductor (70). A pair of parallel circuit branches (78 and 80) are connected to the thermoelectric element (64) and the inductor (70). The first branch (78) has a semiconductor switch (82) with an on state during which current flow supplies energy to the inductor (70) which is stored therein. The second circuit branch (80) has a second energy storage component provided by a battery (90) which receives the stored energy from the inductor (70) during an off state of the semiconductor switch (82) to charge the battery (90) and maintain a given power rating thereof for powering electronic logic circuitry (62) of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph R. Pottebaum
  • Patent number: 4958118
    Abstract: A speed control circuit (50) for a single phase AC induction motor (12) includes a phase control circuit (10) for connecting a main winding (16) to an AC source (18) at a variable time delay phase angle during the half cycle of the AC source, and a boost circuit (52) including a motor speed sensor (54, 56) sensing motor speed and altering the delay interval phase angle in response thereto. The boost circuit shortens the delay interval in response to decreasing motor speed, and lengthens the delay interval in response to increasing motor speed, such that almost full voltage is applied during starting of the motor, which voltage is reduced as the motor begins running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph R. Pottebaum
  • Patent number: 4926100
    Abstract: A variable speed eddy current electric motor includes a zero-torque regulating circuit that senses and responds to the current flowing through an eddy current motor field coil. As the magnitude of the field coil's current is changed by the eddy current motor's speed control circuit, the operating method of the zero-torque regulating circuit supplies varying amounts of current to flow through the field coil in a direction opposite to that of the current applied thereto by the speed control circuit. Thus, when the eddy current motor's speed control circuit no longer causes any current to flow through the field coil, the current supplied to the field coil by the zero-torque regulating circuit produces a magnetic filed that removes all torque from the eddy current motor's output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Karl M. Hink, Joseph R. Pottebaum, Jerome J. Reichard, Bruce C. Wagner, Douglas B. Weber, Theodore O. Wiesendanger