Patents by Inventor Kenneth R. Renkes

Kenneth R. Renkes 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: 6544079
    Abstract: A terminal including a connector plate having raised surfaces which provide the terminal with the required thickness is described. The terminal also includes a slot extending from the connector plate leading edge to facilitate pushing a locking type or quick connect type connector thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Renkes, Robert W. Damerow
  • Publication number: 20020065005
    Abstract: A terminal including a connector plate having raised surfaces which provide the terminal with the required thickness is described. The terminal also includes a slot extending from the connector plate leading edge to facilitate pushing a locking type or quick connect type connector thereover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Renkes, Robert W. Damerow
  • Patent number: 6331742
    Abstract: A terminal including a connector plate having raised surfaces which provide the terminal with the required thickness is described. The terminal also includes a slot extending from the connector plate leading edge to facilitate pushing a locking type or quick connect type connector thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Renkes, Robert W. Damerow
  • Patent number: 5974819
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus containing a thermostat, adapted for use in a food storage compartment potentially containing a flammable gas, includes a thermostat and an enclosure forming a chamber configured to house the thermostat. The enclosure has two umbrella-type check valves configured to permit gas to pass into the chamber or out of the chamber when a predetermined pressure differential exists between the chamber and the food storage compartment. The enclosure forms a seal with the thermostat so that gas only passes through the check valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald W. Poling, Manuel L. Gonzalez, Kenneth R. Renkes
  • Patent number: 5315076
    Abstract: A push button switch assembly has a housing, a switch mechanism mounted within the housing, a plurality of push rods extending through the housing and a plurality of elongate sliders movably mounted within the housing. The switch mechanism includes a plurality of paired electrical contacts. A first end of the push rods is formed to have an enlarged cross-section, and terminates within the housing. The push rods are axially movable relative to the housing between extended and depressed positions. The ends of the push rods interact with cam surfaces on the movable sliders to cause the sliders to move within the housing in response to movements of the push rods. Cam surfaces on opposing edges of the sliders interact with the switch mechanism to open and close selected ones of the switches. The axial displacement of the push rod required to actuate the switch is relatively short (approximately 1/16 inch).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Renkes, Lyle J. Bush
  • Patent number: 5021915
    Abstract: A method of assembling an overload protector for use in a combination starter-protector device adapted to be associated in circuit relation with a dynamoelectic machine. To practice this method, a conductive member is extended through a slot in a sidewall of a casing, and a contact section of the conductive member is located within an open ended recess in the casing defined by the sidewall and a base wall while a terminal section of the conductive member is located on an extension wall extending laterally of the sidewall. The terminal section is secured against displacement to the extension wall. A support for a bimetal switch element is disposed in an assembly position within the open ended recess, and the bimetal switch element is biased into engagement in circuit relation with the contact section.An overload protector, a combination starter-protector device and a method of assembling a starter-protector device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Wandler, Kenneth R. Renkes
  • Patent number: 4440993
    Abstract: A method of operating a timer device having means for indicating the remaining operating time during an operating time period selected for the timer device. The timer device includes a gear train having a pair of branches coupled with the indicating means to drive it in different preselected speed modes through the selected operating time period. In this method, the indicating means is driven in one of the preselected speed modes through one of the gear train branches during an operating time period in excess of a predetermined operating time period of the timer device with the sum of the excess and predetermined operating time periods comprising the selected operating time period, and the drive of the indicating means through the other of the gear train branches is obviated during the excess operating time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Wandler, Kenneth R. Renkes