Patents by Inventor Leonard J. Williams

Leonard J. Williams 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).

  • Method of operating a PWM solenoid valve
    Patent number: 4766921
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method of operating a pulse-width-modulated solenoid valve so as to improve the proportionality of the flow-to-command pulse width characteristics of the valve. A train of command pulses (P.sub.1, P.sub.2, . . . P.sub.n), having widths corresponding to the desired flow through the valve, is superimposed on another train of pre-pulses (p.sub.1, p.sub.2, . . . p.sub.n). Each pre-pulse is timed to appear immediately ahead of an associated command pulse so that their widths will be effectively summed. The pre-pulses have widths necessary to substantially eliminate the "deadzone" in the flow-to-pulse width characteristics of the valve. Hence, the proportionality of the flow-to-command pulse width characteristics of the valve will be substantially improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard J. Williams
  • Armature position detector
    Patent number: 4251762
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for sensing the actual position of an armature in an electromagnetic driver, such as a torque motor, a solenoid, or the like. An oscillator generates a relatively high frequency carrier signal, which is superimposed on a relatively low frequency command signal supplied to a drive coil. Detector coils are positioned in a magnetic circuit, and are arranged to have induced therein, signals identical in frequency to the superimposed signals. The amplitude of the induced signals varies with armature position. The high frequency induced signal is separated and demodulated to provide an output signal indicating the actual position of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard J. Williams
  • Pivotal positioning servoactuator
    Patent number: 4121498
    Abstract: A two-axis positioning servoactuator includes a support, a movable member arranged adjacent the support for independent pivotal movement relative thereto about each of two perpendicular intersecting axes, a pair of differential piston and cylinder actuators operatively interposed between the support and movable member for effecting such angular movement about each of the axes, an electrohydraulic servovalve for each of the actuators and operatively associated therewith to control the same, and means providing a position feedback signal to the corresponding servovalve for effecting controlled movement of the member about each of the axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard J. Williams, Leon W. Blank