Patents by Inventor Joseph T. Betterton

Joseph T. Betterton 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: 6081424
    Abstract: Heat is removed from electronic components located within a closed housing by the use of a heat-conducting metal clip mounted on the housing cover so as to be in pressure contact with the electronic components. The metal clip includes a U-shaped mounting portion firmly clamped to a clip-mounting wall projecting from the cover, and a series of spring arms extending through a slot opening in the cover into pressure contact with individual electronic components. The clamp force of the clip on the mounting wall is designed to act independently of the pressure exerted by each spring arm on an associated electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Terry P. Mach, Kurt R. Jackson, Frank Hodges, Alfred H. Glover, Chandrakant Dave, Stephen J. Morris, Joseph T. Betterton
  • Patent number: 6067867
    Abstract: A gauge assembly is provided including a bobbin assembly disposed within a housing. A magnetic armature is rotatably supported within a sealed chamber defined by said bobbin assembly. Three independent wire coils are wrapped around the bobbin assembly within three separate coil cavities defined by the bobbin assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred H. Glover, Lawrence R. Loveday, Joseph T. Betterton
  • Patent number: 5519257
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling headlamps in response to windshield wiper controls is provided. A microcontroller senses the voltage levels of signals from a windshield wiper switch and a headlamp switch. If the microcontroller senses that the vehicle operator has turned on the windshield wiper switch, the microcontroller turns on the headlamps of a vehicle unless the windshield wipers are in intermittent mode or the operator of the vehicle has turned off the headlamps within a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Lock, III, Joseph T. Betterton
  • Patent number: 5277612
    Abstract: This carrier for a plurality of transistors or other semiconductor devices comprises a unitized body of plastics material having inclined guide surfaces between adjacent guide walls of laterally spaced positioning blocks extending upwardly from a base of the carrier. These guide surfaces and walls guide the leads of the transistors into laterally spaced openings formed through the carrier base which align with openings in a printed circuit board after the carrier is attached to the board by snap-in fasteners. The transistors are seated and held in an upright and aligned position on the carrier by integral leaf-type springs which bias them against the front walls of the blocks for subsequent handling and wave soldering to the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald O. Windham, Jr., Joseph T. Betterton, Joe D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5225965
    Abstract: A load spring for heat sink assemblies has elongated body with a plurality of fingers and a wedge member positioning the spring with respect to a wall of a heat sink housing. The fingers apply a force onto the electrical components to clamp the electrical components against the heat sink housing to provide heat dissipation from the electrical components to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Terry G. Bailey, Joseph T. Betterton, Robert T. Choat, Gerald K. Oden
  • Patent number: 5091633
    Abstract: In this arrangement the rolls of an odometer are serially built up on a support shaft and are sequentially interconnected by pinion gears which drivingly mesh with gear teeth internally of the rolls. These pinion gears are operatively mounted on partition plates which are interposed between each of the externally numbered rolls. The rolls are incrementally rotated by cooperating transfer and gear teeth on the rolls and the pinion gears so that distances traveled are accurately measured in predetermined increments. The rolls are initially stacked with number alignment and to maintain number alignment, the partition plates between each rolls are mechanically interlocked by pin and pocket construction that extend transversely from the extremity of a tangentially extending tang thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Inventors: Alfred H. Glover, Joseph T. Betterton, Richard L. Biegler
  • Patent number: 5089675
    Abstract: An improved pressure transducer having a switching device operated in response to changes in fluid pressure is disclosed which incorporates a terminal support member having electrical contacts which are designed to be electrically bonded to and mechanically interlocked with electrical contacts provided within the housing. The invention also includes an improvement in the piston contacts for preventing scratching of the resistor board. A method is provided for permanently connecting terminals of the housing with the mating metal connector terminals once they have been properly calibrated and connecting the housing ground strap with the terminal support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Acustar, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph T. Betterton, Alfred H. Glover, Thomas S. McKee
  • Patent number: 5038099
    Abstract: A radial type air-core gauge includes orthogonally positioned pairs of stator coils wound on independent coil forms spaced radially 90 degrees apart about a central cup of a gauge case. The cup houses a permanent magnet rotor which rotates about a shaft extending from a support bearing in a bottom surface of the cup to a hub of a dial pointer. Movement of the shaft causes a dial pointer to move over a dial face in response to changes of a balanced resultant field caused by variations of excitation signals applied to the stator coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Acustar, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Markow, William Nolle, Hugo A. Jenrath, John L. Evans, Alfred H. Glover, Joseph T. Betterton
  • Patent number: 5001930
    Abstract: An improved speedometer assembly of the electronic type which utilizes an electric motor mounted to a frame whereby the motor has an end flange portion supported against the frame by means of at least one swingable gate-like latches which are attached to a stationary support by an integral living hinge portion which provides a force against the edge of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Acustar, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred H. Glover, Joseph T. Betterton
  • Patent number: 4982607
    Abstract: An improved pressure transducer to measure and indicate fluid pressure levels including a housing in which a piston assembly is movable in response to pressure changes, the housing being of a composite material of metal and plastic and having grooves therein, the piston having bosses formed thereon to be engaged within the grooves of the housing to prevent rotation of the piston. The transducer is also designed to facilitate grounding of an electrical contact assembly located within the housing. The external portion of the housing may be formed in a hexagonl shape to facilitate installation and removal of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Acustar, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph T. Betterton, Alfred H. Glover, Thomas S. McKee
  • Patent number: 4982847
    Abstract: A board guide assembly (10) includes a printed wiring board (12) which is maintained at predetermined horizontal and vertical positions by a pair of guide mechanisms (42). The guide mechanism (42) includes a lower guide member (48) having a ramped upper surface to guide the board (12) upwards to the predetermined vertical position and an upper guide member (50) having a downwardly ramped lower surface to guide the board (12) downwardly to the predetermined vertical position between the upper and lower guide members (50, 48) and clamped therebetween. A deformable insert (46) is located between the upper and lower guide members (50, 48) to be inserted within a notch (22, 24) in the board (12). The insert (16) includes tabs (72, 74) extending therefrom on opposite sides and spaced apart along the insert (46) to provide force on the board (12) to position in the predetermined horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Acustar, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred H. Glover, Joseph T. Betterton, Bruce Hepler
  • Patent number: 4973188
    Abstract: A pointer bushing for securing an indicating element to an output shaft of an indicating instrument includes a base for spacing the pointer above the instrument face, a collar for connecting the base to the indicating element, and an S-shaped shaft gripping section for connecting the base to the output shaft. The output shaft connection includes a pair of posts which depend axially from the base, a reversely bent wing which extends from each arm, and a shaft gripping member forming the end of wing, the gripping members being in confronting relation to form a generally cylindrical, axially extending, radially expansible, socket for gripping the shaft whereby to fixedly hold the output shaft against relative rotative as well as axial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred H. Glover, Joseph T. Betterton, Bruce Hepler
  • Patent number: 4967047
    Abstract: A fluid pressure transducer with an electrical switch structure therein including a conductor which is movable relative to fixed contacts as influenced by the force of internal spring forces whereas the relative positioning of a spring's end in the housing is adjustable after the transducer's assembly thereby effectively calibrating the switch's opening and closing characteristics relative to a predetermined fluid test pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Acustar, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph T. Betterton, Thomas S. McKee, Alfred H. Glover
  • Patent number: 4905656
    Abstract: A gas flow control valve for engine crankcase emissions includes an enclosure and a hollow valve element which is supported on a rod to permit sliding movements in response to a balance of forces produced by gas pressure and a closing spring located within the hollow control valve element. Vanes straighten gas flow to prevent oscillation and rotation of the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph T. Betterton, Alfred H. Glover, Thomas S. McKee, Chris S. Romanczuk
  • Patent number: 4905657
    Abstract: A gas flow control valve for engine crankcase emissions includes an enclosure and a hollow valve element which is supported on a rod to permit sliding movements in response to a balance of forces produced by gas pressure and a closing spring located within the hollow control valve element. Vanes straighten gas flow to prevent oscillation and rotation of the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph T. Betterton, Alfred H. Glover, Thomas S. McKee, Chris S. Romanczuk
  • Patent number: 4886033
    Abstract: A gas flow control valve for engine crankcase emissions includes an enclosure and a hollow valve element which is supported on a rod to permit sliding movements in response to a balance of forces produced by gas pressure and a closing spring located within the hollow control valve element. Vanes straighten gas flow to prevent oscillation and rotation of the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph T. Betterton, Alfred H. Glover, Thomas S. McKee, Chris S. Romanczuk
  • Patent number: 4846760
    Abstract: A coupler to connect spaced apart ends of a pair of aligned shafts in an odometer assembly, for example, the shaft supporting a permanent or total mileage counting device and another shaft supporting a trip counting device. The coupler has a central body with a thin guide portion extending therefrom for insertion between the shaft ends. Each end of the coupler has a pair of spaced legs defining an open ended slot adapted to receive a shaft end. One leg on either end has a resilient catch-tab for holding the coupler in position on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph T. Betterton, Alfred H. Glover, Bruce Hepler
  • Patent number: 4846762
    Abstract: A shaft coupler particularly adapted for automated assembly to axially spaced ends of two axially aligned shafts such as are commonly found in an odometer assembly. The coupler has a main body portion with a guide portion adapted for insertion between the shaft ends and spaced legs at either end adapted for sliding insertion over flats formed on the shaft ends. The main body has a projection therefrom adapted to be gripplingly engaged by an installation tool. Also, the projection and tool define mutual nonsymmetrical portions for orienting the tool and coupler relative to the shaft so that the coupler may be installed thereto in a simple radially directed movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph T. Betterton, Alfred H. Glover, Bruce Hepler
  • Patent number: 4842425
    Abstract: A support and retainer for a shaft to be supported in spaced overlying relation to a base member as found in an odometer assembly, including an upstanding projection or post which has a bearing portion for support purposes and further including an adjacent retainer member which extends generally parallel to the post and has a free end normally overlying the shaft end but movable in the shaft's axial direction to allow passage of the shaft end against the post's bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph T. Betterton, Alfred H. Glover, Bruce Hepler
  • Patent number: 4822319
    Abstract: A coupler to connect spaced apart ends of a pair of aligned shafts of an odometer assembly, for example, a shaft supporting permanent or total mileage indicating wheels and another shaft supporting trip indicating wheels. The coupler has a generally tubular body with spaced side walls, each side wall having a slot to receive an adjacent shaft end which is configured with a pair of ground flats. The coupler also has an integral catch portion with a movable end portion adopted to pass between the spaced shaft ends when the coupler is inserted over the shaft ends and subsequently to expand outward for preventing removal of the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred H. Glover, Joseph T. Betterton