Patents by Inventor Karl J. Lamb

Karl J. Lamb 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: 5834872
    Abstract: An adjustable coupler has a group of magnet rotors separated by air gaps from a group of conductor rotors. The air gaps are adjusted by axial movement of one of the groups relative to the other to vary the slip of the coupler and achieve a constant load speed at various load torques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 5739627
    Abstract: An adjustable coupler has a rotary magnet rotor with magnet modules gaps from electroconductive elements on an electroconductive rotor. The magnet modules each have two side-by-side permanent magnets with their respective poles reversed and have a neutral plane between the magnets. The magnet modules can be turned for torque adjustment between a maximum torque position in which the neutral planes intersect at the rotary axis of the coupler, and a minimum torque position at which the magnet modules are turned 90 degrees from the maximum torque position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 5712519
    Abstract: A power transfer assembly has a magnet rotor with permanent magnets co-acting with a pair of electroconductive rings on a conductor rotor. The rotary axes of the two rotors are in laterally spaced parallel relation with one of the rotors being greater in diameter than the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 5712520
    Abstract: A conductor rotor presents a pair of electroconductive rings spaced apart to receive magnet carrying shoes with permanent magnets to induce eddy currents in the rings and thereby retard rotation of the conductor rotor. The shoes are moved in and out in a controlled manner to move between a retracted brake-off position and an extended brake-on position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 5691587
    Abstract: A magnetic coupling device has an electroconductive rotor presenting a band of electroconductive material and has a magnet rotor with permanent magnets which are slide-mounted to move radially outward responsive to centrifugal force in opposition to a spring bias. When the magnet rotor is stationary the magnets are radially inward of the orbit of the electroconductive band, and when the magnets have moved outwardly when the magnet rotor is rotating, the magnets are spaced by an air gap from the electroconductive band so that eddy currents are induced in the band resulting in coupling of the rotors. The electroconductive rotor preferably has two such bands positioned on opposite sides of the magnet rotor. The rotors may have sheaves mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 5477094
    Abstract: A magnetic coupler has a magnetic disc containing permanent magnets located between two electroconductive plates and separated therefrom by air gaps. The magnetic disc and electroconductive plates are mounted on coaxial or parallel-spaced input and output shafts so that rotation of the input shaft causes rotation of the output shaft by way of magnetic friction between the permanent magnets and the electroconductive plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 5477093
    Abstract: A magnetic coupler has a magnetic disc containing permanent magnets located between two electroconductive plates and separated therefrom by air gaps. The magnetic disc and electroconductive plates are mounted on coaxial or parallel-spaced input and output shafts so that rotation of the input shaft causes rotation of the output shaft by way of magnetic friction between the permanent magnets and the electroconductive plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 5473209
    Abstract: A braking system adapted to be used on the drive shaft of a vehicle has a rotor containing permanent magnets mounted on the shaft and preferably has a pair of non-rotary electroconductive plates separated by air gaps from the rotor on opposite sides thereof. The plates are slide mounted in a controlled manner on the vehicle chassis to vary the air gaps between brake-on (relatively narrow gap) and brake-off (relatively wide gap) positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb